what is a run?

[ticks]

Correct me if i'm wrong. I have been hearing different things about what runs are. Is a run a fenced off area that the chickens can go to and from the coop? If my chickens are freerange do I have to worry about run construction. Are freerange chickens more mean and wild?

 

[cluckychick]

Yes a run is a fenced area for chickens to "run" and usually attached or surronding their coop. My chickens will be confined to a run because 1. I don't wanna go looking for eggs 2. I don't want predators to get my babies 3. I would like to have them all in one location.

Some people I know do not use a run at all and just have their chickens free range and lay wherever, so I suppose you don't really need a run if your free ranging. As for wether they will be more or less managable I couldn't tell ya but hopefully someone comes along and answers that for ya

 

[ZooZoo]

Your correct! The run is the enclosed area for the chickens outside the coop. Free range chickens can be just as nice and sociable as any other chicken.

 

[ticks]

Quote:
will it be hard to find eggs like cluckychick said?

 

[Dawn419]

You are correct, a run is a fenced area for your chickens.

My first flock (20 years ago) were able to free range just about everyday and I don't think they were wild or mean at all...until we'd be gone for a day and they couldn't roam the yard! They let me know how much they didn't like it!!!

Personally, I think it's best to have a secure run even though you plan on free ranging, for those days that you might not be able to let them range. Having a run and being able to hang out in it surely beats being stuck in the coop (my thoughts IF I were a chicken.

).

Hope this helps!

Dawn

 

[ZooZoo]

Quote:
will it be hard to find eggs like cluckychick said?

It definitly will be harder collecting eggs. Some people who free range their chickens keep them locked in the coop until they are done laying in the morning each day. But some chickens tend to lay whenever, so you never know where youll find eggs. But maybe that will be fun, like an egg hunt

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Quote:
That's exactly why I don't free-range. It's not worth the hassle, and a large run is as easy to build as a small run.

 

[MRNpoultry]

Quote:
I run is a fenced off area.

If my chickens are freerange do I have to worry about run construction.

Even if you let your chickens free range it still might be good to have a run. In case your gone they want have to be in the coop the whole time.

Are freerange chickens more mean and wild?

My chickens free range and they are really nice. They can be off in the woods and if they hear you they will run up to see you.​

 

[Cassandra]

I keep mine confined to a run and they aren't lovey dovey sweethearts like some. So I can say for sure that keeping hens confined to a run does NOT make them sweet and tame.

In fact, it only makes them marginally easier to catch should you need to handle one that doesn't want to be handled. I can chase one around a 6'x12' coop for just as long as I can chase one around an acre if she doesn't want to be caught!

(Incidentally, it also takes me just as long to catch a month old pullet contained in a 2'x3' brooder. So obviously my chicken wrangling skills need some polish.)

Some folks insist that free range chickens are happier than confined ones. But I'd argue that live chickens in the run are happier than dead ones in the yard. It really depends on your personal preference and what kind of a predator problem you have.

Let us know what you decide to do.

Cassandra

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Yeah, I'd rather have live ones in a run, than come home to carcasses scattered all over the yard.