Sufficient or overkill?

[LovemyBabies]

If you want to treat your birds like "FACTORY" raised birds.... cram them in a small space... OR..... Give them way more room than they need, to prevent fights that harm them... My coop is 8x4... 32 sq. ft. for 8 birds and the pop door is ALWAYS open.... they have a 12x20 run to roam in ... 240 sq. ft... soooo, a total of 272 sq. ft. or 34 sq. ft. per bird..... they can flee when the rooster is chasing them or a pecking match starts with the bossy ALFA Female hen... Seems to work so far.... Water and feed are in the run.... the coop is only used for laying and sleeping... I designed it like this because of predators.... They will not have the luxury of free ranging.... which is a shame, I know... but... I have too much invested in them to let some critter kill them...

Agreed always go a little more than too little for happy healthy birds

 

[medicmommy]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. Another question, what do use to cover the top of the run? I don't want them to be caged dinner for the hawks. I can't find 1/2 inch hardware cloth taller than 3 ft. If I apron it like I plan, then my my run will be 2' 6" and that just doesn't seem right. I was looking at chain link fence because that is the heaviest guage I can find here. I did find some deer netting on HomeDepot.com but didn't know if that would work or not. Hoping to get this built this weekend while the weather cooperates. Thanks again.

 

[iwiw60]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. Another question, what do use to cover the top of the run? I don't want them to be caged dinner for the hawks. I can't find 1/2 inch hardware cloth taller than 3 ft. If I apron it like I plan, then my my run will be 2' 6" and that just doesn't seem right. I was looking at chain link fence because that is the heaviest guage I can find here. I did find some deer netting on HomeDepot.com but didn't know if that would work or not. Hoping to get this built this weekend while the weather cooperates. Thanks again.

When installing hardware cloth you don't roll it around your run horizontally...you put it up like wallpaper.

 

[aart]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. Another question, what do use to cover the top of the run? I don't want them to be caged dinner for the hawks. I can't find 1/2 inch hardware cloth taller than 3 ft. If I apron it like I plan, then my my run will be 2' 6" and that just doesn't seem right. I was looking at chain link fence because that is the heaviest guage I can find here. I did find some deer netting on HomeDepot.com but didn't know if that would work or not. Hoping to get this built this weekend while the weather cooperates. Thanks again.

I used 2x4 welded wire fencing....had the desired effect - hawk proof!

 

[DaveOmak]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. Another question, what do use to cover the top of the run? I don't want them to be caged dinner for the hawks. I can't find 1/2 inch hardware cloth taller than 3 ft. If I apron it like I plan, then my my run will be 2' 6" and that just doesn't seem right. I was looking at chain link fence because that is the heaviest guage I can find here. I did find some deer netting on HomeDepot.com but didn't know if that would work or not. Hoping to get this built this weekend while the weather cooperates. Thanks again.

If you live where it rains a lot or is hot, use steel roofing panels..... shade and an umbrella all in one.... Try to find used panels that are from a re-roof... a lot cheaper.... then fill the screw holes with silicone or something....