Chicken Run make-over Phase 2
Early this winter I started a project to add an extension to the existing chicken run. Last week I finished the extension, which adds an additional 672 square feet. I currently only have 34 birds, but this summer I will have 80-100 chickens, so it will be nice having the extra room. The chickens normally free range every day, but I worry about them being over crowded, so it will give them plenty of room when they are locked up for the day.
This week I finished phase 2. The existing run is 12 x 20 feet and I wanted to divide the run in half. I now have two 6 x 20 foot runs.
When building a house for chickens it is all about flexibility. Some of the questions I ask myself are:
Will I have enough room for the future needs?
Does the coop meet the needs for laying hens as wells brooding hens?
Is the coop designed to help integrate the younger birds with the older birds?
By dividing the existing run in half, it helps satisfy these questions. Dividing the run allows young birds to be outside without having to mingle with the older birds. A brooding hen can leave her nest without another hen laying an egg in her box (there is no need to mark eggs). Integrating young and older birds is much easier when they can see each other every day for six to eight weeks before the flocks are combined.
The space inside the coop is also divided for brooding hens to be sequestered so they can be left alone to be free from the drama from the other hens. They also can be left alone to care for their chicks.
Have a great day! Every comment is up-voted and thanks for your up-vote, Tim and Joann
They say all chicken coops have 2 doors.... if they had 4 doors you would have to call it a sedan
We have almost 70 chickens and some guinea fowl. Fortunately we have an old small scale dairy/horse barn which we were able to rennovate (more to complete this season!) for our chicken coops! We also had a head start on protected run areas with our old dog kennels! They sure do take a lot of work even with that! We also free range our birds when we are able to pay attention to them!
Your run looks very ambitious to me! Nice job on it! Is there a specific reason why you have the divided coop/run? We have had to separate some birds for various reasons so I just wonder what yours might have been! :) What kind of chickens do you have/plan on getting? Thank you for sharing!
The divided run and coop allows me to separate the brooding hens and their chicks from the rest of the flock. I have Rhode Island Reds and Buff Orpingtons.
This looks like a great set-up!
I like how you planned ahead for future changes of use. having the divided areas will come in handy!
I planned my dream coop and made the divided areas also, mostly for broody hens and chicks.
Wow! That came out great!
Everything you built looks SOLID and I bet it lasts a LONG time. Good job!
I have a feeling that if I ever get some chickens that I will be hitting you up for some advice!
That is one fantastic coop you have there. I can't imagine what your yard must look like with 100 chickens running about free. We had about 15 at one point and they dug potholes everywhere ;)
Is there any advise you could give a wannabe farmer about nest boxes, how to build them to promote brooding.
I will have to do a post on my nesting boxes. Thanks for the idea.
The view is amazing.