This is Why You Want a Huge Run

[3KillerBs]

The new coop still isn't done and the Splits are growing like feathered weeds. I had to pull the mini-run away from their dog crate but didn't take it out completely. Instead, I used more scrap metal roofing to make it into another feeder shelter/shade structure.

I turned the lid crosswise to make sure that they couldn't be cornered inside, though I haven't seen any bullying yet and the Ladies allow the Splits into their coop.

A 10x10 run, appropriate for these 9 birds, wouldn't have room for this. My roughly 25x25 run does.

If you can do it, go BIG!

(They got the benefit of 3 loads of mixed grass clippings and pine straw from the lawn sweeper plus the produce of my having pruned the muscadines today).

 

[danceswithronin]

In my experience, you'll want as large a run as you can afford to make because chances are you'll end up with more chickens than you originally intended.

 

[Justicedog]

Thanks for documenting your experience. I'd integrated new chicks to a flock before, but don't recall any issues. I'd split the coop in half and had plastic fencing in between for a time, but don't recall any issues once I took it down.

I've done the same again with my new chicks and those remaining whom I'd integrated with a now deceased flock 6 years ago, but for some reason, I'm more concerned this time.

I think I never was able to figure out how to make a space only accessible for the little ones, but not the older ones as I integrated too old.

This weekend, I'm planning on the integration of the coop, so we will see how it goes. The littles won't go too far outside from their door to the coop. There had been some interactions, a challenge and a peck or two. The littles did check out the coop and the actual run and the oldies didn't put up any fuss over that, as they were out free ranging the yard, but they did see the littles in the run area.

It seems a whole cast of hawks have been hanging out over my yard, which has kept the littles just lying down in their half of the coop most of the time. As there's no roof on their make shift temporary run, but it does have a good tree cover, I guess I see why.

Anyway, this is my long winded way of saying thank you, you've given me some pictures to visualize how to make some get away areas for the littles, even though it may be possible for one of the older ones to squeeze into any area the biggest little can get in.

 

[Justicedog]

Oh, I wanted to ask how the tent holds up out there? As my kids are older and we don't have the sporting events to go to, I was thinking of putting that tent we used for shade out with the chickens.

 

[3KillerBs]

Oh, I wanted to ask how the tent holds up out there? As my kids are older and we don't have the sporting events to go to, I was thinking of putting that tent we used for shade out with the chickens.

Thank you for your comments.

I live in a brutal climate for anything kept outdoors. The picnic fly was cheap to begin with and the cover is shot at a year old.

It was looking OK until we had a bad hailstorm and now it's full of little slits. It's still doing it's job of providing shade until the new coop is built, but it's in rough shape and I'll have to cover the frame with a tarp if I want to use it again.

 

[Sally PB]

@3KillerBs, is the netting/fence around your run the electric fence you've mentioned? If I may ask, how long is it and how big? strong? of a solar charger does it take? Premier 1 fence, right, IIRC?

 

[3KillerBs]

@3KillerBs, is the netting/fence around your run the electric fence you've mentioned? If I may ask, how long is it and how big? strong? of a solar charger does it take? Premier 1 fence, right, IIRC?

Yes. It's the 100', 48", solar kit.

https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/poultrynet-plus-48-inch-starter-kit?cat_id=190

I'd like to get some of the Shock or Not because the regular net needs that inner curtain of plastic hardware cloth to keep chicks under 12-18 weeks from going right through the netting.

It has some drawbacks -- needing to have the unit brought in and charged with the wall adaptor (which is NOT for use outdoors and while using the fence), once or twice a week in the winter and/or in persistently rainy weather and, like any electric fence, being less effective over very dry ground -- but I'm extremely pleased with it overall.