Keeping chickens is an activity that comes with many benefits. It’s fun and educational, as well as being a great way to get your kids interested in animals and help them learn about responsibility, biology, and sustainability. Keeping chickens also provides you with lots of fresh eggs – something that can be expensive to buy at the store. However, in order for your hens to remain happy and content, they need plenty of room to roam around outside. They also need a safe space where they can hide from predators and feel safe from other roaming animals. If you’re thinking of keeping chickens at home then it’s important to know how you can build a chicken run that suits their needs. Here we take a look at some helpful tips on how to build a chicken run…
Choose the Right Location for Your Chicken Run
When deciding on the location for your chicken run, you should consider what makes it a safe and suitable place for your chickens to live. You don’t want your chickens to be too close to your home where there is a risk of them being attacked. You also don’t want your chickens to be too close to your garden or vegetable patch, as this could be damaging for your growing plants. A good distance to keep your chickens away from your home and garden is around two to five feet. This will allow you to keep your chickens safe from larger animals and pests, whilst also not being too far from your vegetable patch in case they accidentally eat some of your plants.
Decide on the Dimensions of your Chicken Run
Once you have decided on the location for your chicken run, you should think about the size of the run you want to build. The recommended size of a chicken run is between six and ten feet wide, and between three and five feet high. This is to allow your chickens enough room to walk around, jump, and to keep them safe from predators. You also need to make sure that your chickens have enough space to roost comfortably. Roosting is where chickens sleep at night, and they do this by perching on a structure that is high off the ground. Chickens are naturally inclined to roost on high places, as this makes them feel safer from predators. If your chickens don’t have a high enough area to roost, they might be too afraid of being attacked and might not sleep properly. This could lead to your chickens being too tired to produce eggs. chicken run
Build a Frame for your Chicken Run
Once you have decided on the size of your chicken run, your next step is to build a sturdy frame that will support your chicken run and hold its weight. The frame will need to sit on a solid and sturdy foundation, such as bricks or concrete slabs, in order to hold the weight of your chicken run and be safe from rotting. You can use wood, metal, or concrete to build your frame. If you use wood for your frame, it’s recommended that you use pressure treated lumber for the best results. This will help protect your frame from rot and damage, and it is also good for your chickens as it is nontoxic. Once you have built your frame, you will then need to attach a wire mesh to the frame. This is to protect your chickens from larger animals and pests, and it will also allow them enough space to move around.
Add a Coating to your Frame
Once you have built your frame, you will then need to add a coating to it. This is to protect your chickens from pests, such as rodents and insects, and it will also stop your chickens from being able to scratch through the frame and escaping. There are a few different coating materials that you can use to coat your frame. The first coating material that you could use is chicken wire. Chicken wire is easy to obtain and is relatively cheap, however, it isn’t always the best option as it is easily damaged and can rust. Another coating option that is more durable is welded wire. Welded wire is a great option as it is more sturdy and durable and can protect your chicken run for longer.
Install a Gate and Walkway in your Chicken Run
After you have built your frame and added a coating, you will then need to install a gate and walkway in your chicken run. The gate in your chicken run should be wide enough for you to easily enter and exit, and it should also be high enough for you to be out of reach from your chickens. You should also lay down a walkway in your chicken run. This will allow you to walk around in your chicken run without coming into contact with your chickens, and it will also allow you to easily clean and maintain your chicken run.
Conclusion
Keeping chickens is a great way to get fresh eggs, be more sustainable, and get your kids interested in animals. However, your chickens also need a safe and spacious area to live. If you want to build a chicken run, it’s important to choose the right location, decide on the dimensions of your run, build a frame for your run, add a coating to your frame, install a gate and walkway in your run, and finally, maintain your run so your chickens can live happily.
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