Solitary chicken - need advice

[LittleLau]

I would like to give my chickens a more interesting run. They free range a lot, but I think they may be a little bored when in the run.

The 3m eglu run is also a pain to clean, so I'm wondering if it's possible to build a higher run that has more room for perches etc, and easier to clean as I could get inside, but the foot print as the current one.

I have a concrete base with sleeper surround that was built for the chickens, and a patio paved around, so really can't make the footprint bigger.

Suggestions welcome.

 

Laura

 

[mullethunter]

Could you consider swapping the Eglu for an Eglu Go Up? You'd be initially out of pocket from buying the Go Up but you'd sell your Eglu pretty easily and recoup some of the cost.

[LittleLau]

Hmm. I hadn't really thought of a Go Up, it still looks a bit low to me, and not sure I could persuade my husband to replace all that we have bought less than a year ago.

It is an odd/small shape for a walk in run. May be a challenge.

[mullethunter]

I'm not sure there's anything you could buy then - better get planning

[The Dogmother]

I'm no fan of the Go version, but why not build a walk in run along the site you have, and pop the classic inside, up on a 'table' to give them more floor space. I take it that you've looked in the run inspirations thread?

[LittleLau]

I have looked at the run inspiration thread, but I have not seen anything as small as mine would have to be, as I'm planning to go up rather than out. I will measure it tomorrow, but I'm guessing it's around 1m at its narrowest and 1.6m at the other end, in a triangular shape. I'm sure I'll have to plan something myself, nothing I can buy will fit that shape. I'll benefit from not crawling on hands and knees to clean it, but will the girls appreciate height up, or will it just be for my benefit?

[The Dogmother]

It would mostly be for your benefit.

 

I have a classic kicking around too; it has an extended run. I just rake it from the door after sprinkling Ground Sanitising Powder through the mesh. When the run needs cleaning out, I detach it from the Eglu, lift off and clear it out that way.

[mullethunter]

Depending on how you build it you may be able to have mezzanine levels which would then give the chooks more usable space. And the will appreciate more perches.

 

Having said that, the reason I went for a lo-rise 'WIR' rather than the full height one was that I didn't think the double height (and increased price) would benefit the girls at all and I can get in the lo-rise one ok - I think it's about 1.2m high.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I wheel out this photo of my old setup whenever anyone asks about making an Eglu run more interesting .

 

Ikea shoe racks make perfect perches . If your girls freerange a lot I don't think you should worry too much about them being bored in the run.

 

[Lewis]

You could build a small walk in run on the current footprint you have

 

A scaled down version of this could work?

[LittleLau]

Thanks so much everyone. I think I need to have a good measure up and see what I can plan on paper. In the meantime, loving the shoe rack idea, especially as I have one exactly the same waiting to be disposed off as soon as we finished decorating the room it's in.

[Sarasaurus]

I am having a similar issue trying to find a 'skinny' walk-in run too!

 

I have an eglu go-up with 2m run which is fantastic - my girls get lots of free range time, but they are wrecking my lawn and I have to keep my plants fenced off. So I need somewhere where they can have a run around and have limited time out in the full garden.

 

I've even emailed Eglu to see if they have any plans to offer skinny walk-in runs, rather than the square ones - these are great but would take up too much room in my garden!