Solitary chicken - need advice

[badgerbluebadger]

I am trying to get my husband to build me a WIR but he thinks that we don't have have big enough garden.

 

I have suggest against the side of the house on a thin bit of patio but I was wondering what is the minium size for one bearing in mind I have an eglu which I would want inside the run and two chickens - i like the idea of having the eglu on a top layer and also having a bottom area to save on floor save?

 

Ideas I really need - then I can get him to do it for me.

[xScrunchee]

My WIR is only 11ft x 5ft which is small compared to most I read about although I have no idea how many metres that would be

[Falkor]

I think the offical chook party line on this is to allow 1m square per chook......but I would allow as much space as you can afford!

 

Eglu on a table is a great plan......my WIR needs some additional levels....will be incorporating them into the extension if this rain ever stops!!!

[Redwing]

Take a look at Aint "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here's walk in run (link on her signature) its a smallish run 2m x 2.5m and the use of space is very clever

 

Don't forget that the idea of a WIR is to walk in to it! if you go too small it will be impratical, I would say that 3 x 1m or 2 x 2m would be the smallest you could go

[Falkor]

Good point Tasha!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Take a look at Aint "Ooops, word censored!"ody Here's walk in run (link on her signature) its a smallish run 2m x 2.5m and the use of space is very clever

 

You're too kind, Tasha .

 

Hope the pictures of my WIR help, though, Badgerbluebadger . Feel free to ask if you need any more info .

[badgerbluebadger]

I think my husband my be right

[xScrunchee]

Don't loose heart.

Where there's a will, there's a way

 

How big is the area next to the house?

 

Is it bigger than an Eglu run?

 

If it's the same size or bigger then a walk in run (even a small one) will be fine and well worth building.

 

You only have 2 hens so even if the gap is the same size as an Eglu run, it will mean that you will be able to walk into the run rather than crawl

 

Have a measure and pop back

Maybe a photo?

 

Don't give up just yet

[lyd119]

We've just finished our WIR, it's 8ft x 4ft/2.4m x 1.2m. Our 4 chooks are in there and they are fine, they do get to free range for at least an hour a day and they have a bigger coop than the eglu/cube. just give them as much as space as you can , that's what we did and it's worked out ok.

 

Lydia

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I agree, don't give up just yet . If you can let us see your garden I'm sure we can come up with a cunning plan for you .

[lyd119]

yup , we NEED pictures. =]

Do you let them free range by the way?

[badgerbluebadger]

Yep they free range each weekend and evenings when i am home from work - I will take some pictures

[xScrunchee]

That's the spirit

 

In my opinion, if the area you were hoping to put a WIR is the same size or larger than the standard Eglu run-Go for it

 

Much easier to clean out and more height for shelves/perches etc.

 

Sorry that I'm repeating myself -I just think it's a good idea and I'm sure if you do it-you will be glad you did