New run advice

[SuzyB]

Have decided to have a new run built instead of the three cobbled together runs my girls are currently calling home. At the moment their house is one of those off the floor integrated into a run things, with an extended half covered run connected to that, which leads to a 4 x 4 enclosed run, so its long rather than wide.

Im thinking of building one large enough to walk into, so probably about 8' x 4' and 6' high, completely enclosed. Will this be ok for 4 hens? The house (a new one) would be inside, and the whole thing built on concrete flags. Next question would be that I realise I'd need to deep fill the base, but what is best to use?

Any advice gratefully received

Edited to add, the girls free range from 5.30pm to bedtime Monday to Friday and free range all day at weekends so wouldnt be in the run full time.

[southern softie]

Obviously the more room they have the better but your 4' x 8' pen will be plenty of room. They really do need surprisingly little room, especially if they roam free for part of the day.

I have just collected another 6 ex-battery hens and they, not surprisingly, seem more than happy with a house and a 6x3 run.

[tlck9]

I have an 8x8x6' high run, which was ideal as the lengths of timber all came in 8ft lengths - and was cheaper

i have 4 choocks, but their coop is inside this, so i'd say each chuck has a metre square space each

they always want to get out, but unfortunetly with the fence around not being more than 4 foot high they are confined to the run at the moment

[Suechooks]

SuzyB - The RSPCA recommend 1sq m per hen for free range commercial producers.
I think I'd be giving them as much room as you possibly can - especially if its in a permanent place as it will get stale very quickly if they are in all day which they will be in winter.
I have max of 12 in a 12'x40' or 20'x20' which are generous as its on an allotment. It helps prevent bullying and gives them plenty to do all day when they're not free ranging on the whole plot.

[tlck9]

Sue, how do you find the prospect of flying hens? mine are very good at heights and I'm thinking of opening their run up, but need to extend the height from the current 3.5/4 foot high - but not sure how to do it

I worry about not having a roof....

[Suechooks]

Sue, how do you find the prospect of flying hens? mine are very good at heights and I'm thinking of opening their run up, but need to extend the height from the current 3.5/4 foot high - but not sure how to do it

I worry about not having a roof....

Tick - I have chicken wire roof over the whole run area plus Onduline covered areas on each run. I use the 5'6" fencing posts in the ground about 12" and work from that. It is a bit low for me (5'7") but I push the centre parts up with longer pieces of wood or diagonals from post to post and an occasional one inside the run. I like to keep it a bit loose as it deters foxy from walking across it! I used 6' netting where I could but it still needs stitching together carefully with thin wire.
Some of mine like to fly so I give them lots of logs and tyres to hop on to. One run also has an ark in it (just in case of sick hen or need to separate for any reason) and the youngsters have their siesta on there!
If I was starting again and had loadsa money I'd just go for those metal panels they use on building sites and dig them into the ground (?Heras) then put the finer weld mesh on as a roof. But it'd cost me a fortune to do the big runs that way ...... maybe if I have a win on the lottery......!