competition

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I had nothing to do...........so

Wed, Jun 1 2011 02:06pm BST 1
The Caretaker
The Caretaker
82 Posts
I thought i'd extend the run for the girls, i followed the same design from the original end which was 8tf x 8ft x 6ft high and I had a little help from an inspecter well........one of the girls seemed to like what was happening :)
they seem to be getting on with the changes just fine :)
Judging by the size of what you can see how many within sensible bounds would you think i could have in this set up?
TC
Wed, Jun 1 2011 05:21pm BST 2
Topflight
Topflight
52 Posts
Hi caretaker, nice job, I,d keep up to 10 in there, but i only keep bantams, Just an idea but have you thought of having the henhouse on the outside, with just a pop hole into the run, you seem to have room. you will not need to go in the run then to clean out and collect eggs etc, when it,s bad weather and mucky. all the best.
Wed, Jun 1 2011 08:23pm BST 3
The Caretaker
The Caretaker
82 Posts
Above is the area that i have to populate and your thinking possibly up to 10 but only if they are Bantoms?
I think i'd prefer the Coop inside for added security ;)
Wed, Jun 1 2011 09:12pm BST 4
Chicken Lady
Chicken Lady
65 Posts
Eye balling the size a bit TC I think you could keep 7- 8 in there. (different scources say diff things, anything from 3-5-20ft per hen, obv the more room the better) Do you plan to let them range in the garden when you are around or stay in there all the time? If letting them out for a few hours most days then def 7-8 but I,m not sure about the house size. 1ft of pole each tends to be the rule.

I wonder about the botttom edge too. I see the slabs on the inside, are they all the way round? I put a skirt of chicken wire 2ft out from the outside edge, secured on the inside edge, as foxes will dig right at the base and not think to start further out. (Thats because I have a huge fox problem, you may not have the same) The wire soon sniks in and is covered by grass so you don't see it.
CL
Wed, Jun 1 2011 11:07pm BST 5
Topflight
Topflight
52 Posts

I,d keep 10 birds in that run, also it looks like your hen house is of solid construction so it would be well safe outside the run as long as the birds are locked in it at night, foxes and other preditors get in to runs quicker than they do henhouses or sheds. At the end of the day it,s all about birds being locked away safely at night time.

Tue, Jul 5 2011 03:26pm BST 6
petchickens
petchickens
12 Posts
agree with the others id place the coop on the outside as it looks quite safe (put locks on the nest boxes as thats how most foxes get in ) and i would only had 2 maybe 3 as yes you could add 10 in there but if there only pets let them have as much room as they can
Fri, Jul 8 2011 09:58am BST 7
weeley
weeley
93 Posts
I've put my chicken house on the outside, high up on legs so rats can't burrow under it and I can sweep the woodshavings straight into the wheelbarrow without having to bend, and I can get to the nest boxes for eggs without having to go into the run. It works really well. We have lots of foxes, but none have broken in - and when they've tried, it's always been around the run, not the house, which is a robust Rivers Animal Housing one. Same with rats, it's always the run... We have sunk wire round the edges, but rats have found chinks (around tree roots/joins in the wire/corners, usually) and a tiny gap is enough for them. I'd consider is slinging a tarp over the top, or adding a table for shelter in poor or hot weather. Looks great - I could do with one just like it!
Sat, Jul 9 2011 02:44pm BST 8
The Caretaker
The Caretaker
82 Posts
Thanks for that guys, we are going through a bit of a transition in the garden at the moment so i maywell move it to the outside. the possibilites are almost endless :)
Tue, Jul 12 2011 01:48am BST 9
click cluck
click cluck
18 Posts
I think the run looks great - you can come & build some for me any time.

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