Chickens like to be free of charge to move around and peck at the dirt for food or minerals. Adequate chicken runs are open spaces enclosed by wire or some other form of fence to maintain the chickens penned in although keeping predators out. They’re generally attached directly towards the coop to permit the chickens simple access.
Regular doses of fresh air and sunshine are necessary for chickens to produce healthy eggs. They are not designed to live in the dark all the time, all cooped up. An outdoor enclosure allows the chickens to roam about. They get exercise as well as sun and air. Build the pen nice and solid with plenty of room to keep chickens safe and healthy. Make sure predators are kept at bay.
They’ll use their pen for other points, too. Chickens don’t bathe in water, they bathe in dirt, so they require lots of it. Any roosters you’ve are going to require room to strut their stuff or do battle having a potential rival to impress the ladies.
Your design might change depending on the breed of chicken you choose to raise. Heavier birds are not as likely to fly the coop, so they will not need as high a fence. Maybe just some wooden posts with wire stretched between them. Lighter birds, more capable of flight, will usually require a roof of some kind. You can stick with the chicken wire or switch to bird netting for this purpose.
Look into the laws in your area regulating chicken raising. If you are out in the country, you probably will not encounter any difficulties. In more urban areas, however, there are often strict laws about how many chickens you can keep and some municipalities outlaw home flocks all together! Better to find out what legal restrictions might affect your efforts before you go out and buy a large flock of chickens.
Discover a great spot. You’re likely to be building both a coop along with a chicken pen, so make certain there’s room for them. It’s greatest to place the run correct following towards the coop. Chickens are up with the sun and go down at night. If they are able to move freely between coop and run, they are able to put themselves to bed at night.
Chicken runs can be dangerous places if you live in an area with a lot of predators. Stray cats, wood rats, raccoons and foxes are all eager to make a meal out of your flock. If you live in the country, some form of roof is going to be necessary. Predators are all to ready to climb up and over even the highest fence.
You are now ready to build safe, secure chicken runs. By providing an adequate outdoor environment, you are sure to raise healthy, happy birds.
