Chicken Coop Run

by chicken house plans on Saturday, June 13th, 2009 | Comments Off

So when installing a chicken run there may be some unknowns to you. Sure it's commonsense for the most part, but here's three must do's to reduce maintenance and to protect your chickens from being snatched up from predators.

1.Position the Chicken Coop Run to the Eastern Sky

With a run that faces the eastern morning sun rise you benefit in a few ways. Your run area will warm up early and all the dew left from overnight will be dried up within the hour. Your chickens will be more inclined to come out from roosting to romp around in the warm morning sun. And because the sun dried things up for you from morning to the afternoon your coop won't be a sloppy mess.

2.Fence off the Top Too

There's all type of predators that can attack from entering the chicken coop run from the top of the run. Basic coop design does not call for a top placed on run but all it takes to protect your chickens from hawks, eagles, owls and pesky climbing raccoons is some chicken wire on the top; Your chickens will still get plenty of sun and be protected from threats from above.

3.Straw and Rotation Method

Usually a run will have a dirt floor; it's very common for the chicken waste and scratching to make a mess of the floor very early on, so a good tip to keep your maintenance work down is to every so often throw a layer of straw down. Eventual the straw and chicken waste will begin to pile up at which point you need to remove it (it can be composted).

A good technique to cut down on the amount of cleaning is to either separate the run into two areas or have two distinct chicken runs. This way while one is being used the other can be cleaned, left to grow vegetation and recuperate from previous use.

Hope I got you early enough for you to start implementing some of this advice. Happy chickening!

Chad B. is into backyard chicken care for the benefits of organic food. You can learn more about setting up and maintaining a Chicken Coop Run by visiting Chads blog at http://chickencoopcare.com

what size chicken coop will i need?

hi all ive just been given 7 hens and i have knocked up a chicken coop ouit off wood just for this week i am looking at buying a coop and was wondering what size is best for the 7 hens i am thinking off getting more in the near future. i dont need a run as they will be in a field with our horses.
many thanks

I use 2 square feet per bird. They need 1 foot of perch each, space for the food dispenser, oyster shell dispenser and nest boxes, one for each three hens. The waterer can be in the coop or mounted to the outside of the coop.

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