its time for somthing new for my chickens i believe they need more space and thats wut the problem is ther pecking each other there eating there eggs and there bored and im spending money every week in ahalf for a pecking block oyster shells alfafa they have cute nesting boxes but there is 12 hens in a 12x12 run how can i make somthing bigger with as little out a pockett costs as possable i cant let them rome anymore weve had to many rattlers and coyotes and the snakes are really bad already and we havet hit summer yet the girls need more room and to be kept safe any suggestions??????
wow I just made a post on this very issue. I doubled space and today after a few weeks of being good to each other I had 2 with bloody tails ggrrrrrrrr Donna in Branson
My hens and roo have a 100 ft yard that we attached to the smaller run in where their coop is and mine seem to enjoy that. We went to Lowes, got the inexpensive but firm heavy plastic fencing, about 12 heavy duty plastic poles you use your foot to sink into the ground then attach the fencing to the poles and you have a yard the chickens can come out in, they are protected from going somewhere and have a bit of room to roam.
Quote:i must admit the pecking block slows them down and eating there eggs if they get to them b4 i do! but ive done everything a HIGHER protien feed, the block ,the alfalpha ,the shell s,ive dusted them 4 mites it must be more room im thinking that has to be the solution
Quote:were do you put them at nite?? it sounds good is the pastic fence small enough to keep the snakes out thats the big problem imhaving is snakes thats y i had to put them in the old dog run i tried to make it as comfy and cute as possable but there obviously not happy
Some things I love lately are (to keep chickens entertained): 1. I clip them grass with yard scissors about 2-3 inches long (don't want it too long or it can cause impacted crop), and fill up a pie plate, then dump the contents in the yard for them to eat. I try to include clover and dandylion (sp?) leaves too. I try to give a couple of pie plates full per day or so. Sometimes more. They eat it ALL. 2. I take a pallet and put 3 or 4 concrete blocks around the edge. They go under it to hide from hawks, and they love to perch on it. If it were up off the ground a bit higher (like two blocks high), then they would have double decker room in the run. 3. Every day, I throw some of their food onto the ground for them to find. They surprisingly run for it and clean it all up, even though they have the same stuff in their feeder. They LOVE to peck the earth. 4. I have some things placed on the ground that I turn over for them periodically to let them get the earthworms underneath (like bricks and logs). 5. I have roosts for them to fly up to and sit on. They are heavily used. These things enrich their run and make them happy. I also find earthworms for them by digging the soil with a stick sometimes. I have in the past created temporary runs with fencing and netting overhead. The downside is that they aren't dogproof or coyote proof. So if you have neighbor dogs around, they could get in easily. But if you just mainly need protection from hawks, then temporary yards added onto the main yard are a great solution. I agree with CariLynn that it is easy to add on with temp. fencing.
I agree, that many of the pictures I see of runs are empty and flat. By adding roosts in your runs, putting in an old ladder, adding boxes, tables, old logs it may look more crowded to you, but the birds can find places to hide, and go to different heights and get away from a bully. It actually gives them quite a bit more space when you make it multilevels! Also a big box will give some nice shade or a wind block. I like the idea of the pallet on cement blocks, that would give some nice shade too, Think I may try that this week end. MrsK
I use plastic fencing for the run.I just added more to block off my house area.Now my hens have the run and then the rest of the lot to wander in when I let them out. I still notice some head pecking,but it is way better than when they were in the shed/run 24/7. I would do the fencing.I notice my chickens laying under bushes once they have done their scratching/pecking rounds. Old lawn furniture is good. I see people tossing their old wooden ones right now.Perfect for shade and perching. When I mow the lawn I will bag the first few rows,and toss the clippings in the run.
Premier makes wonderful electric poultry netting. We've been using it since 2004 and it works great. http://www.premier1supplies.com/poultry/species.php?source=google&gclid=CJ2qs7GJ4KgCFcm8KgodoUVoFg
