Currant Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Hi I'm considering keeping them in their run permanently, does anyone do this or is it really mean? It is 9 square metres, cube 3m and full height 3x2m walk in run with tree perches. I have tried omlet fencing off the plants - quite good in winter but i can't get to the beds easily and it looks awful. They also then poo all over the patio and chase rhe children! Tried omlet fencing sections of grass and scrubby area at the back but they always escape and can't catch them. Arghh, what is the answer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 When you had them in fencing did you clip their wings?I let mine have run in garden in winter,kids aren't out much and the rain washes poo away.In the summer I tend to keep them in a fenced off area beside walk in run its about 16 feet by 4feet.I clip wings otherwise they are over fence.My garden is nothing great but they are so destructive to container plants I just keep them confined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Your run is large enough to keep them in. I allow free-ranging for limited periods, mainly because of the risk of foxes and due to my working hours, but often mine don't get time outside the run for several days. They'd be fine if you kept them in, but try and give them some green veg in that case (cabbage for example). As you've already got the Omlet fencing, why not use this to contain them when they are free-ranging? That way they get a change of scene and you get the chance to clean the Cube and run and so on, without having too much mess in the garden. I don't have children, but I got fed up with hosing poo off the patio and so now I restrict the hens to a limited area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 I have two separate runs. The big girls inthe WIR never come out and are quite happy whilst the banties get to FR and are much more demanding when they want to come out, I hang cabbages in the big girls run and they have plenty of perches .Your girls will gget used to being in the run all the time, just give them plenty to do. My banties were in their run most of the winter as it was too wet to let them out and they were fine, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Very few of my birds have the chance to free range. None have exploded yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Mine very very rarely free range. They are fine kept in their run. They used to free range all the time, and when I first contained them they protested a bit, but they settled to a life of imprisonment very quickly. Redwing - Your comment made me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Redwing - Your comment made me Me too, just imagine all those feathers. Around 4 and 1/2 years ago, like you, I got fed up of all the poops and destroyed garden, so I shut my original Omlet girls in. I did feel guilty to start with but they soon got used to it, and I got my garden back Now I have pekins and they are shut in the run all day too, mostly because of the local cats, although I have heard they do less damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 Mine rarely get out either there like a demolition squad I too have omlet netting but no matter what they always find a way there smart those chickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Currant Posted April 12, 2014 Author Share Posted April 12, 2014 Thanks all for your replies. I will try to clip their wings again as haven't done them for a while and let them have the occasional time in the omlet netting - they make excellent lawnmowers! One of mine looks like she might explode if she doesn't get let out, she never stops pacing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 That's quite a small run for 5 hens to be kept in permanently Currant. Depends on the nature of the breeds of course. We have runs about the same size and they get really stressed up after a few hours confinement. It is very rare that they are not let out for at least half an hour every day. They seem to have no concept of time, so I think half an hour is almost as good as all day. As Olly says, you can use the Omlet netting to create a ranging area. We've done just that with ours, but they are Orpingtons so don't fly (too fat). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickanne Posted April 13, 2014 Share Posted April 13, 2014 I reckon the perches are really important. Didn't realize how much they enjoyed aerial life until they taught me. As long as your run has dustbathing and scratching opportunities they will be fine. I also remind myself chickens don't do time so if you only let them out for fifteen minutes they will know they have been "out". Always feel guilty at this time of year when I cannot let them rampage at will but they get a minimum of 15 minutes twice a day on grass. They whinge for England but remember they are trying it on like a toddler! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suse71 Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 Two of mine fly regularly over the netting - need to clip wings again too - not done it since they moulted. I thought I would see if we could survive without clipping - errr...no, one flew like Superman over the run the other day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 Very few of my birds have the chance to free range. None have exploded yet! Yes, same here I've liked having my girls in a run so I can check them over easier and keep an eye on what they're consuming. I like the Omlet fencing but my White Star can get through the gap!! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 I tied some rigid black plastic netting to the bottom half of my Omlet netting. Stops small inquisitive hens getting through! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amys garden Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 Hello I've set my girls run up after a few false starts so that when I open their run (which is parallel to our patio - I like to watch them from my kitchen window-) the gate meets another wire panel and they are blocked from the patio They are only allowed out when I am watching so I can shoo the away from sensitive beds It works well. They have a big run and I think compared to many chickens they're spoiled rotten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickanne Posted April 14, 2014 Share Posted April 14, 2014 Two of mine fly regularly over the netting - need to clip wings again too - not done it since they moulted. I thought I would see if we could survive without clipping - errr...no, one flew like Superman over the run the other day! Haha! When I got Ruby & Millie last year I explained that wing clipping did not have to happen IF they stayed earthbound. Millie was very flighty from day one and did a very good impersonation of a jump jet - 8 foot! A pity, because once they start laying they are much more staid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 15, 2014 Share Posted April 15, 2014 My chooks were allowed to roam all over the place, but one summer we decided that it would be nicer if we had some garden for humans including the patio. So the fence went around the top part of the garden. Nope, they weren't happy but it is indeed nice to see flowers and no poop on the path and can sit without someone begging by your legs! Although I have opened the top lawn up because it's nice and fresh for them at the moment. But we do have a large garden so I don't like locking them in their run. But personal preference really. And the newbies chase the pigeons so I'm happy about that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted April 15, 2014 Share Posted April 15, 2014 I completely understand your dilemma. We only have the one now but she can produce enough poop to sink a battleship and the damage she does to our plant containers is phenomenal. Unfortunately she gets very pacey and agitated if she doesnt get out for a roam at least half an hr every day. We have rigid plastic netting (about 5ft high) that we place around strategic areas to keep her off the tender plants but I think we will have to start using it to keep her contained around her WIR. Poop is never good squashed between toes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
