Using inferior materials to cap the run may lead to heartbreak as predators ferret out weak spots in the coop. Roofing may be solid or fashioned from additional fencing. Run fencing should be buried at least 6 inches below the ground. Remember that some predators are known to dig under fences to reach their prey. Hardware cloth or small mesh welded-wire fencing is ideal, but any strong, small-mesh barrier will get the job done. Chain link fence will keep out larger predators like dogs or foxes, but smaller aggressors like weasels will slip right through. Although one might assume chicken wire is a good choice, it doesn’t take much for an aggressive predator to rip through the flimsy fencing. In the case of chicken runs, bigger is always better.
Chickens in an undersized run are likelier to fight and unsanitary conditions can lead to health problems. So a 5’圆’ run will accommodate three chickens, 6’x10’ for six birds, etc. A good rule of thumb is to provide ten square feet of run space per chicken. For example, a flock of bantams needs less room than heavier breeds. The size of a chicken run should be based, not surprisingly, on flock size. Take these tips into consideration when building your flock a run to call their own. If you are building your dream coop or expanding to accommodate a growing flock, remember that your chickens will spend much of their lives alfresco. For what it’s worth, even those free ranging chickens will (or at least should) end their day under confinement, much to the chagrin of the raccoons and opossums waiting to strike when the sun goes down.Ĭhicken runs are usually of basic construction, but a few requirements need to be met to ensure a flock of any size will remain happy, healthy and safe from those pesky predators. A fenced in space attached to the chicken coop is called a run and, with a little planning, provides the flock with all the outdoors it needs without the need to roam. Keeping the backyard brood fenced in is often the right call. We're talking space limitations, HOA restrictions and the neighbor has a cranky dog restrictions. But for many, if not most, backyard chicken enthusiasts, free-ranging the flock just isn’t practical. Spending their days roaming the range, foraging to their hearts’ content.
0 kommentar(er)
