Temporary run/coop queation

[spiritpots]

I recently lost 6 of my 12 free range chickens to a predator attack so now have six new 3-week old chicks in a brooder in my house. I have a 140 sq. ft. secure run attached to my existing coop and plan to divide off half of it as a temporary run for the new chicks, which I'll move out in 3-4 weeks after they are fully feathered. When I have integrated new chicks in the past I have taken the chicks to an outside run during the day but returned them to their brooder at night until they were big enough to begin integrating with the existing flock. This time, however, I would like to keep the new chicks in their half of the large run during the day as well as at night until they are big enough to go into the coop with the big chickens.

I know the new chicks will be fine in the run during the day but am wondering what type of "coop" I should have in the run for the chicks to sleep in at night. I thought perhaps placing a roost in a corner and covering the outside of the run would make it feel more secure for the chicks and less out in the open than it is with just the hardware cloth walls. I have a dog crate I could put in the run for a coop and could also put the brooder plate in the coop area as well. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Let's look at needs. In Minnesota in June they will not have to worry about it getting too cold for them at night so that worry is gone.

They need predator protection. I don't know how predator safe your run is, including form digging, climbing, or flying predators. You mentioned hardware cloth. You do not want a predator like a raccoon to be able to stick a claw through and grab a chunk of a roosting chicken.

The need a place to get out of wind or rain if they want to. During the day they can move to shelter but at night they may be fairly fixed to wherever they are. So set the roost where they will be sheltered. As far as wind or rain they would be OK sleeping in trees as long as they are partially sheltered.

During the day they need to see and be seen by the hens. You are probably not using that fence for predator protection so it can be fairly cheap wire.

I think it is an excellent idea. That dog crate may work if you can get them to sleep in it, especially if you can leave the door open. They are going to grow really fast. My concern is that they may get too big for all six to be able to sleep in there. Not sure which dog crate you are talking about though.

 

[spiritpots]

Let's look at needs. In Minnesota in June they will not have to worry about it getting too cold for them at night so that worry is gone.

They need predator protection. I don't know how predator safe your run is, including form digging, climbing, or flying predators. You mentioned hardware cloth. You do not want a predator like a raccoon to be able to stick a claw through and grab a chunk of a roosting chicken.

The need a place to get out of wind or rain if they want to. During the day they can move to shelter but at night they may be fairly fixed to wherever they are. So set the roost where they will be sheltered. As far as wind or rain they would be OK sleeping in trees as long as they are partially sheltered.

During the day they need to see and be seen by the hens. You are probably not using that fence for predator protection so it can be fairly cheap wire.

I think it is an excellent idea. That dog crate may work if you can get them to sleep in it, especially if you can leave the door open. They are going to grow really fast. My concern is that they may get too big for all six to be able to sleep in there. Not sure which dog crate you are talking about though.

Thank you very much for your insights. My coop and run are covered and predator proof with hardware cloth over all openings, including windows, eaves, and the run door. Hardware cloth is also buried around all sides. Attached are a few photos for your reference. I plan to separate the run for the new chicks where the shed roof begins (half of the entire run). Even though the run is secure, its door is left open during the day while the older chickens free range, so I'll be sure the fencing I use to separate the two spaces is strong should a predator wander into the run during the day while the others are free ranging (it hasn't happened yet but it could!). This divider will still allow the two flocks to see each other but keep them apart until the new chicks are bigger and I begin integrating them.

My plan was to put the temporary coop/roost area in one of the back corners of the run and attach plywood or a tarp to the outside of the run on those sides so the chicks would feel safer overnight in that space. I agree about the dog crate. I'm not sure how easily it will be to get the chicks to use it plus I don't think it will be big enough for all six chickens for very long.