Solitary chicken - need advice

[mccroft]

The run we already have is just over 12ft x by just over 4ft with a height just over 1m

It was home to my dear and much loved 4 hens. Our new will be buffed up to the run on the outside and we will be getting 6 hens. The run is sited on soil with 2 inches of wood chip.

 

Our hens more or less free ranged in the garden all the time but I'm now worried that as the fox now knows there is likely to be more chickens he may come back during the day as well as at night. So I only really want them to free range when there is someone outside.

 

Would the run be big enough, where the old wooden coup is sited I'm going to put it to my OH that we could extend the run. This would give another area of 6ftx4ft, which we could give a bit more height although only up to 1.5m or slightly more due to a tree.

 

Sorry for all the questions but since the fox attack I just want to double check on everything even though I more than likely know the answer

[chickenanne]

I think it sounds fine! They love scratching in woodchip etc, too. Don't woory about the height - it's easier for you if it can be taller, but makes no difference to them (so long as they can stand upright, obviously!)

[Mutrix Farmers]

I think the guideline is 1 square metre per bird so an extension might be required if they can't free range during the day.

[helenmb]

Just make sure that they have plenty to keep them occupied, I hang Spring Greens or anything similar from the roof at a hight a bit above their heads so they have to jump up for it. They love this game . It may be a tad on the small size as it is at the moment so if you can extend as you suggest then this will be much better. I have 7 girls in a run that is 3m x 3m (which is about 11ft square) by 1.8m high. My DH is in the process of building a mezzanine platform in the run too to add more interest. They are in the run a lot of the time and seem very happy.