Sunshine Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 After reading posts on the forum i have realised that a walk in run with a roof is probably the best option for keeping our chickens safe when they arrive. So i was wondering if you keep your chickens in the run all day or still let them out to free range? would they be ok to be in the run all day to possibly be let out at weekends if the weather is nice or in summer when the days are longer? Run would probably be about 12ft by 12ft give or take as i havnt actually measured the area! Emma P.S i have found all the info that people give on the forum very useful and i am becoming quite obsessed with reading the posts on all different chicken topics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tara Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Hi the size sounds great.lve had chickens for about 2 yrs now and still love watching them through the day.They are funny to watch sitting together.Let us know how it all gose cant wait to see your run and chooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 we have just completed a 12x6 feet run for our chooks and its plenty big enough. 12x12 will be huge and fab size for chooks. Any time you can afford them out of the run the chooks would appreciate it, but dont worry, lots of people only let their girls out weekends or for an hour or so in the evenings. If you compare our much loved hens to the life of a normal chicken they live a life of luxury! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 I'm planning to get a walk in run this summer. Your hens will be fine when confined to the run and delighted to be let out to free range when you are around. That is what I plan to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol U Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Your chooks will love having a run that size. Most of us let them out as and when we can, depending on time available, safety of garden etc. They will soon get into whatever routine is best for you. I know you'll love them - great time wasters though. I glance out to see if they're OK and suddenly realise half an hour has gone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted February 13, 2008 Author Share Posted February 13, 2008 Thank you for your replies. Has everyone got a roof on their walk in runs? As where we want to put it there are about 9 fruit trees growing-this is really the best spot as i dont think dad would let us have any of his precious lawn as he wants nothing to do with the chickens when they arrive. So i dont think a roof would be possible unless it was just netting but this would only keep wild birds out not foxes. We do live in a rural ish area, there are no houses immediately around us and i have never seen a fox but im guessing they will soon magically appear when we get the chickens. Im sure i'll have more questions very soon! Emma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 as he wants nothing to do with the chickens when they arrive. That won't last long, methinks . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 we have a perspex roof on our run and its really great as all the hemcore in the run stays lovely and dry, we are using half the amout of hemcore now compared to what we used to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh sarah Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 i think a roof would be a huge advantage to keep everything dry and mr. fox out, see if you can work on your dad i am sure he will come around when they arrive sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Our run started off without a roof - but as Chelsea says the Auboise we put down lasts much longer by keeping dry. We also live in a rural location, but I feel much better knowing they are safer with them roof on. It means that I don't have to shut the door of the cube at night now, so if the neighbours ever keep an eye on them for me I don't have to ask them to get up early to let them out. Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 as he wants nothing to do with the chickens when they arrive. That won't last long, methinks . Him Indoors has feigned total indifference from day one. The only progress is that they have gone from "those b****y hens" to "our hens". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 I have taken a photo of the fruit trees where the run hopefully will be going. http://www.flickr.com/photos/23781391@N07/ A roof is not really possible because of the bigger trees and plus the smaller ones will grow eventually. So i think we will just have to have fences and make sure we lock them up at night. What do you all think? Emma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 Wooo our chickens arrived today! They havnt yet ventured into the run just perching all together in the house. We all keep running to check if they have ventured 'downstairs'. Good news though dad came home and seems very keen on the larger run idea with no roof, so we are going to a farm suppliers at the weekend to buy the wire!! So i think they will be ok in their run until then so they can get fully aquainted(sp) with each other and their new home! Im really excited! But we dont have names yet-mum likes Florence so just need to think of 3 more! Sorry for my blabble! Emma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I've got trees in my roofed walk in run. Just need to keep the pruning shears handy. You can see pictures of it in the forum gallery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...