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[Leghorn_Larry]

Hi. We have been keeping chicken for just a couple of months. We have three hens and an Eglu Classic with standard 2m run. Every few days we move the eglu (& run) to fresh part of lawn. We free-range them whenever we are at home, e.g. evenings and weekends. Now the days are getting shorter as we approach winter we are considering extending the run by 1m as they spend less time free-range.

We are now wondering whether to create a static area for the eglu with, say wood chippings or hemp.

What are the trade-offs between static and mobile, especially with regard to work involved (cleaning etc) and health/welfare?

Please can you share your experiences?

[Beantree]

We have used both and still do LeghornLarry. Fixed runs inherently become just earth in a short time and do benefit from a base of wood chip. Important that they are kept dry and poo picked. Even then they will become a stinky mess and need a total clear out very so often. However a fixed run can be made far more secure than a moveable run and be made high enough to stand in.

 

Problem with moveable runs is that they are heavy and cumbersome to move. If they are not moved regularly enough and still poo picked the ground becomes acidic and eventually doesn't recover. But cleaning ours our involves a lot of bending because to keep the weight down to a minimum we have had to lose height.

 

At the moment we are in an awkward compromise situation in a temporary location. All the moveable runs are fixed in position within a fairly secure enclosure. The enclosure is sub-divided to surround the runs so that all can 'free range' within their enclosure and have the runs for shelter in rain. Now that they have free ranged they get stressed when confined in their runs, even though they are well over 1m2 per bird and in some cases 2m2, so you may have problems in that respect even though you are extending the run. Our intention eventually is to keep to this format but raise the runs to improve access and make the main enclosure very secure.

[mullethunter]

For three hens I would definitely get he 1m extension, as if you work normal hours you'll barely see your girls during the week over the really short winter days let alone be able to let them out.

 

I have a fixed 3x2 WIR attached to an Eglu Go with 2m run on slabs with woodchip for my 4 bantams, and like yours they get to FR when we're at home. They seem really happy in that run, and over the last few days they've not seemed too bothered to come out even at FR time (although that could be because moulting is making them feel under the weather).

 

That said, I do think chooks prefer to be on grass, so I think carrying on as you are would be their preferred solution, but I think you'd need a lot of space to be able to move them around on as the grass won't really grow back over winter, and you'd need to move them probably more often.

 

So I guess the question is do you have enough room to allow them a completely new patch every few days for the winter months (and are you willing to put up with the grass damage) and will you actually go out there and do it. If the answer to either of those is 'no' then perhaps a fixed run may be a better option.

[Thumbcat]

I have an eglu classic on paving slabs. There's a layer of aubiose that gets changed about every six weeks and every week I just scatter down some sanitiser powder and give it a good raking. It works really well.

 

I would definitely treat your girls to a longer run. I have a 4 metre run for my three.