4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Pete1974]

going to change my run next week ive got two options on shape but restricted on size.thats not a problem as i let them out very often .im using 6x3 aivary panels.so whats gonna be best 3x9 run so they can run up and down or 6x6 so they can run round in circles .advise me please before i start putting together and dont say L SHAPE PLEASE.i aint got no more hair to pull out

[Cooks]

errm L shape?? sorry souldn't resist it. I have no idea what is best but good luck with your project

 

I suppose you have to think about what space you'll have around the cube etc.. how it fits in with your garden??

Edited May 5, 2008 by Guest

[chelsea]

I personally would prefer a longer/thinner run, we used aviary panels for ours (same size as yours) and we did a 12x6'run (see pic in my signature). They have plenty of room to run up and down.

 

I suppose it depends on the spot/room you have for them in the garden.

[Cinnamon]

Mines round

[Pete1974]

Mines round

[Scottie]

I'm sure it said somewhere recently that hens (and people) become more stressed if in a square area. I would go for long and thin!

 

Sheila

[Shirl]

Certainly the recent article in Practical Poultry said rectangular is better. Chickens don't "do" square

[theherd123]

My hen hotel is square - 4.5m X 4.5m and i can honestly say that both my chooks and i are quite mad!

[mrsm_jones]

3ft isn't a lot of room for YOU to walk in though! It's less than 1m, so consider how you would clean it. Think my shovel would bash against the sides I would go for the 6x6 option.

[Pete1974]

i think im gonna have to put this to a vote

[mayflower]

According to what I have read, the reason why it is called a run is, so the hens can run up and down. Apparently, they are more likely to be happy in a rectangular shape than a circular one. So that's what I would do.

[Abbey Road Girl]

Just on intuition I would go for length. I partly base this on seeing kids in supermarkets--they love to race and skid lengthways while mum and dad are shopping. And there must be a reason why men, women and horses (to say nothing of greyhounds) do the same thing.

 

My Jack Russells had no choice but to enjoy going round in circles inside our house, but they probably would have enjoyed even more having a long straight go. That's what they did when let free on the common!

[Abbey Road Girl]

Also if you want to add a steeplechase element, the plastic box I foolishly put play sand into for a dustbath (totally ignored except for the girls munching the sand) makes a nice variation in level--upturned--for race and chase. A king of the hill kind of thing.

[Rabbieboy]

According to what I have read, the reason why it is called a run is, so the hens can run up and down. Apparently, they are more likely to be happy in a rectangular shape than a circular one. So that's what I would do.

 

I always thought it was called a Run because the birds can Run around so I would build a round run.

[Cinnamon]

According to what I have read, the reason why it is called a run is, so the hens can run up and down. Apparently, they are more likely to be happy in a rectangular shape than a circular one. So that's what I would do.

 

Surely that would depend on the overall size of the run though?

My hens have a massive area to run across their round run,as well as perches & so forth to go onto

[TAJ]

3*9 = 27 and 6*6 = 36, so from the dimensions you have given the square would give them a lot more space. Though I do agree with the recetangle idea.

 

...sorry that wasn't much help really - pros of both!

 

Tracy

[Pete1974]

decided on the long run knowing my hens .who seem to walk back and forth all the time any way when in there run. oh and il change my sig later its in capitals sorry

[redhotchick]

My gut reaction was long and thin, but taking into account TAJ comment about area (very good thinking) made me think about diagonals. I think the diagonal would be approx 8.5m so nearly as long as the long thin option.

I'd go for area over length of run, extra space for you as well as the chickens.

 

If you are putting a roof on (and this is generally recommended) you will have a bigger span to cope with and might require some support (lengths of timber)

and of course an extra 9m2 of roofing to buy.

 

It depends how much garden space you willing to give up too.