Mrs

[Wantchooks]

Sorry for all my questions - trying to work out the best option for when I eventually get chooks.....

 

Is there anyone on here - for any reason - actually NOT let their chooks out at all. Ever.

 

I am considering a 3m run and a cube, and wonder if anyone else who has that set up finds their girls are just as happy staying inside.

 

I am only worried about Mr Fox - not anything else - and the fact that I wouldn't be able to be present in the garden all the time.

 

 

Unfortunately we do have a fox problem around these parts.

[Redwing]

I have various pens of chickens and some never get to free range (either too flighty, too feathery or two young - my reasons - not upheld by others!) they seem quite happy.

 

Of the others that do get some free range time no one has had much outside time at all while it has been so wet as we havent been around as much to supervise, those chickens do seem to 'miss' free ranging and they are the ones who rush for the door where those who never free range dont know any different

 

I dont feel cruel confining even those used to more freedom as they dont appear to really suffer and only pace up and down to make you feel guilty if they know you are watching

 

Preventing boredom and providing enough space is key though

 

If you propose to have the cube and a 3m run I wouldnt go for the maximum number of chickens for the cube obviously

 

I personally never allow unsupervised free ranging although plenty of other people do with few problems

 

You could always consider electric netting?

[Jools]

I'd concur that it very much depends what they're used to. If they're always confined and you supply them with plenty of greens and make their run a bit of a playground, they'll be perfectly happy. Of course the proviso is that you don't over-crowd them in the first place.

[Wantchooks]

Only thinking of four!

[Jools]

Only thinking of four!

 

That's what everyone says at first!

 

But seriously, four would be fine.

[Wantchooks]

It's a toss up between a walk in run 8' x 12' and a cube or a cube and 3m ext. About the same price.

 

Trouble is the lady who does the walk in runs is muttering slightly darkly about cubes and a few horror stories, although to be fair to her, she is perfectly happy to quote for a run around one of their houses or around a cube!

[Space Chick]

Then try Tony from Aviaries for you, he makes fab WIR's for cubes

 

http://www.aviaries4u.co.uk/

 

The forum even gets a mention on the home page

 

I would go for a WIR over cube extensions personally if you have the room, as you can add more height and interest with tables. There are pictures on my website below, I use a number of tables (pasting and childrens) in my WIR and the girls love it.

 

Mine only get supervised free-ranging, and with these dark nights most week days they don't get any free-range time, and they are all very very happy girls

[Redwing]

there are always people out there that dont like the Omlet products. Me? I think there is room for good quality plastic houses and wooden ones, each to their own and all that!

 

I personally would go for the walk in run, it will mean that you can get in with your chooks to clean them out and handle them etc.. it also means you can add lots of levels and perches so giving them extra space and variety - check out Space Chicks run in 'Chicken run inspiration' thread in the Eglu and Cube FAQ section - thats only one of the multi level runs I can think of

 

Lots of people like the cube runs as they are more u"Ooops, word censored!"trusive and are not permenant and they also sucessfully make use of levels in some cases but if you have the option of a walk in run i would take that if you dont mind the structure in your garden

 

Be warned - chickens are addictive as Jools alludes to above, I started with just three last year

 

Cross posted with Space Chick

[Gem_Seb]

Mine have a 3m by 3m walk in run and i have made sure there are lots of perches and things to keep them occupied in there! they seem quite happy and i get god eggs from all of them, i have 5 bantoms, just make sure theres enough to occupy them and they wont notice a thing! our garden isnt enclosed very well and we dont have particulary nice neighbours so i wouldnt trust letting them out when were not there, and we both work long hours, so especially in the winter months its not possible for them to free range...

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I would agree with the suggestion for a walk in run . My 5 are confined to their WIR all day for 3 days of the week at this time of year but there is enough space and enough high rise hentertainment to keep them happy and occupied.

 

You can see my WIR in my signature.

[debbier]

My four chooks very, very rarely get outside their run. I have a dog and just wouldn't trust her with them. I have 4 in one eglu + a 2x3m run.

 

I'm not familiar with the cube runs, but moved from an eglu +run to an eglu + wir, and the difference is incomparable. The chickens get more space, it has a roof, so I use aubiose and cleaning is easier, and I get to go into their run and get all pally with them

 

I'd go for a wir if you can, no question.

 

I am a maybe a tad biased as mine was a raffle prize, but can highly recommend the Tony Aviaries4U runs.

 

Pics of mine in my blog, link below sig.

[Chucky1]

Hi Wantchooks. There's a lot to think about when you first start on the poultry keepers path isn't there. Don't let all that put you off the chickens will be great I promise you. Though as someone said earlier they are addictive.

 

There was a thread quite recently about how chickens will pester to be let out to FR - you may have seen it. I think the concensus was that our girls do sometimes play us up and that they are perfectly happy in the run until they see a human.

 

I sometimes wonder whether we keep chickens or they keep us

 

"Touch wood" we don't have a fox problem. [because of the danger to lambs, feed stores, etc. any sightings are taken pretty seriously round here]. So our gals generally FR over 8 acres, more if they have a mind to go next door, but there are times we have to keep them in, for various reasons. They get along just fine when we do.

 

Four sounds a good number in a cube and 3m run.

 

All the very best - you won't regret getting chucks - but you might want more

[CluckyBucks]

Hello there

 

I dont free range my 3 girls because they are all quite flighty, and there is also a nasty cat which eyes them up at every opportunity. Also, at the end of our garden is a main road, and i dont want to risk it.

 

They are equally as happy, as i provide them with things such as perches, rocks, plantpots, treatballs and other things to keep them occupied. As long as they are stimulated, happy and have enough room, there shouldnt be a problem.

 

Good luck when you do get your girls

 

xx xx

[veggiemad]

Hi.

we used to have an eglu with 3m run on the patio with easi-bed on the run floor plus my three used to FR everyday BUT............since getting the builders in for the conservatory they have now moved to a cube- on grass with the standard 2m PLUS 2m extensions. They dont FR at all now - i dont trust builders to shut the gates !! They seem fine although the grass is non existant now. DH is builing me a WIR in the new year

 

They seem quite happy and i've had my first 3 eggs day for about 3 months... so they are obviously content in their confined home.

 

Whatever you decide - good luck

x

[TAJ]

I have 6 with a 3m run and they only get to free range when we are around these days (after Mr fox sited). They are happy in their run, but do need entertaining - peckablocks, mixed corn to scratch for in the ground and the odd treat that needs time to eat (like hanging veg).

 

Tracy

[welovemarmite]

i have a cube outside a 6ft by 12ft run built by tony at avaries for you and my girls never go out of it. They might a little next summer if we are around to supervise. We have too many dangerous wild creatures (and some domestic ones) who might decide to munch on them. They seem really happy.

[alih]

I have a cube inside an 8 x 12 run and the girls rarely go out. I have 5 and they are perfectly happy.