Run Requirements and Ideas

[akf93]

Hi there!

We are ending up with more of a predator issue than I can handle anymore. So now I need ideas on a run. I haven’t done any research on a run because til now, my birds have always free ranged. It hurts my heart to have to put them in a run but I’ve lost too many recently. We have two wooded acres and they are SO happy. But I can’t keep losing birds at this rate. I have 22 birds right now (2 ducks and 20 chickens) but I like to be around 30.

Help me out! Size? Building on the cheap? Do I need a roof or can I do an electric fence? I know for a fact we’ve had foxes, owls, and our dogs () as predators. Not sure if there’s been anything else. I’d love them to be able to go into the woods some for all those goodies out there but I don’t know if it’s possible.

Here’s what I’m working with. I have no idea the dimensions but obviously way too small. We weren’t concerned about size on the run because we thought we’d just free range.

 

[akf93]

(Nevermind that extra piece of plywood. It was part of a temporary mini run we had set up for introducing chicks to the older birds.)

 

[3KillerBs]

The easiest run is what I have -- a length of electric poultry netting. https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/poultrynet-plus-48-inch-starter-kit?cat_id=160

That's not necessarily the best option in the snow.

The usual guidelines are to have at least 10 square feet per bird in your run. So 200 square feet -- 10x20 or 15x15 -- for 20 birds or 300 square feet -- 10x30 or 15x20 -- for 30 birds. Those aren't hard-and-fast numbers, just guidelines, but they make a good starting place.

You don't need a roof if your main concern is ground predators rather than aerial predators but it's helpful if your birds won't go out in the snow.

A horse run-in/loafing shed or a metal carport can make a relatively easy conversion for a really large roofed run.

 

[akf93]

The easiest run is what I have -- a length of electric poultry netting. https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/poultrynet-plus-48-inch-starter-kit?cat_id=160

That's not necessarily the best option in the snow.

The usual guidelines are to have at least 10 square feet per bird in your run. So 200 square feet -- 10x20 or 15x15 -- for 20 birds or 300 square feet -- 10x30 or 15x20 -- for 30 birds. Those aren't hard-and-fast numbers, just guidelines, but they make a good starting place.

You don't need a roof if your main concern is ground predators rather than aerial predators but it's helpful if your birds won't go out in the snow.

A horse run-in/loafing shed or a metal carport can make a relatively easy conversion for a really large roofed run.

If these are our main predators, would it be fine to use chain link or something a little less secure as long as the coop is secure?

 

[Knobby]

I purchased a 10x20 run on Amazon..believe it's just alittle over $400. Had to bury chicken wire around the perimeter to prevent predators from digging under and in to the run itself. I am only using this as a temporary solution for the time being...just enough to get me through the winter since I am new to raising chickens and didn't want to let them free range. We have coyotes, hawks, falcons and eagles that visit us from time to time. I keep the hens locked up in their coop at nights as added security and peace of mind.

 

[Vadard]

Hi there!

We are ending up with more of a predator issue than I can handle anymore. So now I need ideas on a run. I haven’t done any research on a run because til now, my birds have always free ranged. It hurts my heart to have to put them in a run but I’ve lost too many recently. We have two wooded acres and they are SO happy. But I can’t keep losing birds at this rate. I have 22 birds right now (2 ducks and 20 chickens) but I like to be around 30.

Help me out! Size? Building on the cheap? Do I need a roof or can I do an electric fence? I know for a fact we’ve had foxes, owls, and our dogs () as predators. Not sure if there’s been anything else. I’d love them to be able to go into the woods some for all those goodies out there but I don’t know if it’s possible.

Here’s what I’m working with. I have no idea the dimensions but obviously way too small. We weren’t concerned about size on the run because we thought we’d just free range.

I deal with a lot of the same varmints, plus coyotes. Here’s what I’m building:

- 16’ x 32’ fenced in with 2” x 4” welded wire mesh 6’ tall (“dog wire” at most feed stores)

- 2 runs of electrified poly wire. One at ground level, and one over the top

- Hawk netting over the top of the whole thing.

This is just the run. They’ll sleep in the coop that’s gonna be critter proof for anything that digs under or drops down through the netting.

And I keep cameras up, so I know what’s sneaking around the bushes. Varmints never sleep!

 

[3KillerBs]

If these are our main predators, would it be fine to use chain link or something a little less secure as long as the coop is secure?

That depends on circumstances -- on which predators you consider the most likely threats and what risks you're willing to take.

Unroofed chainlink is *usually* secure against dogs and coyotes. It's not secure against climbers like raccoons or slim predators like weasels and snakes or vermin like rats. Adding a layer of 1/2" hardware cloth at least partway up the side can help.

Of course only some kind of cover will stop hawks and owls -- some of whom can crash through lighter-weight netting.

 

[akf93]

I purchased a 10x20 run on Amazon..believe it's just alittle over $400. Had to bury chicken wire around the perimeter to prevent predators from digging under and in to the run itself. I am only using this as a temporary solution for the time being...just enough to get me through the winter since I am new to raising chickens and didn't want to let them free range. We have coyotes, hawks, falcons and eagles that visit us from time to time. I keep the hens locked up in their coop at nights as added security and peace of mind.

Are the holes on the mesh small enough a little chick won’t escape? I can’t see that it says the size of the holes. I’m looking at a similar one that’s 10’x25’.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Are the holes on the mesh small enough a little chick won’t escape? I can’t see that it says the size of the holes. I’m looking at a similar one that’s 10’x25’.

I have a 10x26 version of this. It comes with chicken wire (not predator proof AT ALL - its only purpose is to keep chickens IN, it does not keep anything out). I added 1/2" hardware cloth around the entire perimeter (including 4ft up the sides). Baby chicks cannot get through hardware cloth. You would need to add hardware cloth for this structure to be predator proof.

 

[akf93]

I have a 10x26 version of this. It comes with chicken wire (not predator proof AT ALL - its only purpose is to keep chickens IN, it does not keep anything out). I added 1/2" hardware cloth around the entire perimeter (including 4ft up the sides). Baby chicks cannot get through hardware cloth. You would need to add hardware cloth for this structure to be predator proof.

Are you happy with the structure quality for the price? I think I found yours. $50 cheaper and slightly larger than the one I was looking at.