To have a run or not

[chickymama32]

I have 3 chicks almost ready to head to their coop. We are in a neighborhood so they are literally backyard chickens. We plan on having a small fence around the coop and connecting to the side of the house. This will leave a huge area for the chickens to run when we are not home. The area is on the side of the house but we don't plan on adding a full inclosed run at this time. They have plenty of room to run but my concern is the protection. Do you think having a backyard in a neighborhood vs having land they will be safer or would you suggest making a run?

Also can you use hardwire cloth to make the run and what size approx. would I need?

Thank you!

Heidi

 

[jetdog]

Don't get to attached to them they won't be there long, hawks will take them out for sure. The beauty of the enclosed run is protection when your not around, mine are in a 10x10 dog kennel all day and are allowed out when I'm home and I've still have hawks circling. They will be over the small fence in no time and probably in the neighbors yard don't forget about dogs. I would have the enclosed run.

 

[chickymama32]

Do you think a 4x10 run would be sufficient for 3 hens? Im going out of town for 10 days so im really only worried about this timeframe. Im a homebody and a SAHM so Im not worried about when I am here. Im thinking a 4x10 run would be okay since they will only be there for when im on a trip or away for an hour or so.

 

[jetdog]

4x10 will be perfect just make it secure in every way possible.

 

[chickymama32]

Any suggestions or tips other than using hardware cloth? Looked into that and its outta my budget so I will be using poultry fencing.

Thanks for your help too!

 

[Mister B]

Hardware cloth is kind of expensive. I used 4' 2x4 welded wire (we call it dog wire) to make my run. Then I got some 2' poultry wire. I ran the wire out 1' on the ground and 1' up the fencing. That has kept dogs from digging in. Now, I did not cover the top. I have not had a hawk inside my run. I did run some wire and CDs across the run, however. The CDs dangled. That worked, I guess.

 

[jetdog]

2x4 or 2x3 welded wire is alot cheaper and very strong, if you build the run and lace the inside of the run with the poultry wire it should do the job, an apron around the outside extending out about a foot should keep anything from digging in.