Which layout for run? Built in grow out pen or no?

[gracejr]

Ok, I'd love some input on chicken runs! We are picking up the rest of the fencing on Wednesday, and I'm trying to figure out just how I want this. Do it once and call it good! Panels are all chain link panels for dog kennels.

Option A, one big giant run. Even at max capacity for the coop (25 chickens), that gives 34.4sqft of space per bird. I would need to double check to make sure we have 48' of space in the right direction, but I'm pretty sure we do.

Option B is a smaller main run, only 16.8sqft per bird at max capacity. But has a built in grow out pen for broody hens and cockerels until they are sold/slaughtered. Grow out pen would have 240sqft of space. I COULD leave the door between the two pens open, giving a total of 26.4sqft per bird when the small pen isn't in use.

Do I go with the smaller pen, so I can easily separate birds? (We do NOT have a shelter for a small coop, though) Or do I stick with one big pen for everyone? It's not a concern right now, but next year we will be letting hens go broody and raise chicks. We will keep some, sell some, and grow some out for meat. We cannot free range, so the more space the better.

Or is there a better setup you can think of? The coop is 10'x10'. We have six 6'x6' panels, and will be picking up eight 10'x6' panels on Wednesday. Two 10' panels have doors, 1 of the 6' panels has a door.

 

[KDK1]

Ok, I'd love some input on chicken runs! We are picking up the rest of the fencing on Wednesday, and I'm trying to figure out just how I want this. Do it once and call it good! Panels are all chain link panels for dog kennels.

Option A, one big giant run. Even at max capacity for the coop (25 chickens), that gives 34.4sqft of space per bird. I would need to double check to make sure we have 48' of space in the right direction, but I'm pretty sure we do.
Option B is a smaller main run, only 16.8sqft per bird at max capacity. But has a built in grow out pen for broody hens and cockerels until they are sold/slaughtered. Grow out pen would have 240sqft of space. I COULD leave the door between the two pens open, giving a total of 26.4sqft per bird when the small pen isn't in use.
Do I go with the smaller pen, so I can easily separate birds? (We do NOT have a shelter for a small coop, though) Or do I stick with one big pen for everyone? It's not a concern right now, but next year we will be letting hens go broody and raise chicks. We will keep some, sell some, and grow some out for meat. We cannot free range, so the more space the better.
Or is there a better setup you can think of? The coop is 10'x10'. We have six 6'x6' panels, and will be picking up eight 10'x6' panels on Wednesday. Two 10' panels have doors, 1 of the 6' panels has a door.

Are both of these options the same total SF? Same footprint?

 

[gracejr]

No, I was just being lazy when I was in paint and copy/pasted the boxes. The bottom option is smaller overall, and smaller footprint, since two of those panels are being used inside. It would be 10' shorter in length overall.

For main pens... Option A is 38' from the corner of the coop. Option B is 16' from edge of coop to dividing wall, 28' overall.

 

[emilysrad]

I am opting to keep my run split in half, so that the habitat can settle or rejuvenate, or something, for half the year, or even a whole year. This is supposed to help reduce the buildup of disease. So i would change your design to allow for that. The "dormant" section of our run has been seeded with greens and i have used it in the past as a grow out. Since my flock is fully integrated now, it's just dormant.

Hope that helped.

 

[Flock Me]

Ok, I'd love some input on chicken runs! We are picking up the rest of the fencing on Wednesday, and I'm trying to figure out just how I want this. Do it once and call it good! Panels are all chain link panels for dog kennels.

Option A, one big giant run. Even at max capacity for the coop (25 chickens), that gives 34.4sqft of space per bird. I would need to double check to make sure we have 48' of space in the right direction, but I'm pretty sure we do.

Option B is a smaller main run, only 16.8sqft per bird at max capacity. But has a built in grow out pen for broody hens and cockerels until they are sold/slaughtered. Grow out pen would have 240sqft of space. I COULD leave the door between the two pens open, giving a total of 26.4sqft per bird when the small pen isn't in use.

Do I go with the smaller pen, so I can easily separate birds? (We do NOT have a shelter for a small coop, though) Or do I stick with one big pen for everyone? It's not a concern right now, but next year we will be letting hens go broody and raise chicks. We will keep some, sell some, and grow some out for meat. We cannot free range, so the more space the better.

Or is there a better setup you can think of? The coop is 10'x10'. We have six 6'x6' panels, and will be picking up eight 10'x6' panels on Wednesday. Two 10' panels have doors, 1 of the 6' panels has a door.

Google Chicken Paddocks. Moveable work best, chicken tractors are good also. The key is to move before area is burnt. Flock size/paddock size dictates how often the move occurs! Flock can be trained to go from coop to paddock and back to coop again with handful of scratch. Provide nests in paddock to avoid egg hunts I move mine to fresh paddock every weekend and flock lays at 98% consuming half the pellets. Healthy happy hens is the only way to go!.