The Poultry Keeper

henparty · Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 11 Location: N.Yorkshire

I have a poultry house that is 4ft x 4ft with an 8ft x 4ft attached run.
I would like to get a free standing run so i can rest the ground.
I have 5 Black Rock pullets of 10 weeks and 5 Different pure breeds of 8 weeks.
Advice would be welcome on a free standing run, the house and run i have are to heavy to move.
I also have this house and run in a small enclosure, but i do not want them to have free range until they are fully grown, because of my 2 moggi's.
I am new to poultry keeping ...what age will they be fully grown?
The ground in the run is getting messy and i felt another run would be the answer, i have only had the hens 2 weeks.
Any suggestions please? Rolling Eyes

debcat · Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:05 pm Post subject:

Hi Henparty,
welcome to the forum.
They will be full grown around 18 weeks.
I think the current advice is to use ground for about 4 weeks and then rest it for another 4 before reusing.

My 7 week olds have a moveable run which can be moved by 2 people. It's not that big though so I move it every couple of days. i don't trust my cats either.
The easiest way would probably be to make run panels which can be fixed together or hinged at the joints. That way you can alter the shape to rest the ground.
Hope this makes sense.
What sort of pure breds have you got?
All the best
Debs

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

hello henparty and welcome to the forum. Could you extend the run to be the size of the enclosure they are in? The more space they have the less it appears that they have descimated it. Does the run come of the house? If you put the house in the centre of one side of the enclosure, you could make a run that is moveable. I made my run from panels of weldmesh 6' x 3'. The outside edge is made from .75x1.50" wood with a centre support in the middle of the 6' side and small cross struts in the outside corners to hold the shape. Then pinned/stapled the weldmesh onto it. I have the panels in two with hinges in the middle so they can do into different shapes. At the ends of each two I have eyes and a link ~ I think it's called a chain link, its oval with a twisty thing to lock it. You could make a few of those and have the run to oneside for while and then move it to the otherside to rest the ground. Forgot to say I have the sames eyes and chain links on the house to attach the run.
You could also put wood chips on the floor of the run, this helps to stop the ground going so muddy and the chicks love pecking about in it, especially if you sprinkle food in there for them.
Some chicks are mature around 16-18 weeks, but some pure breeds take longer, although they are full size. I think most people's experience is that chickens are a match for cats, even when they're as young as yours. hope that helps, sorry it was so long

NannyP · Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:11 pm Post subject:

that sounds like a really good idea Debcat, moving panels, so you can change the shape.
Nice to hear about your chooks Henpart, tell us more and we love photos!! Laughing

Lisa

Hi henparty Smile

Small runs don't last long with chickens, do they Confused

Been there, done that Wink

When I got my chooks I was told to rest the ground every 3 months, so although I bet the chickens are eating and scratching their way through any greenery in your run, it shouldn't be a concern from the point of view of any build up of disease or worms for quite a while yet. So please don't worry.

How were you thinking of your extra run working? Would it be an extension to you existing run? Or were you thinking of a separate unit you would move about?

Another option if the run is worn and muddy is to put a covering of something else over the ground for them to scratch through. I put straw down on the ground in my run. They love kicking though it looking for seeds. And when it gets too muddy or grubby I replace it with fresh and the ready fertilized straw goes on the compost heap on the allotment.

You can also use woodchips or gravel in a simillar way.

As for the cats, while the chooks are still rather small it is best to err on the side of caution. By the time they are laying eggs (some time after 18 weeks for the hybrids, a bit later for pure breeds) they should be a fair size and fairly safe with cats. I have been told a swift peck on an inquisitive nose usually deters the cats from trying again! But I'll let the cat owners confirm that Very Happy

debcat · Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:12 pm Post subject:

Forgot to say I have 8 cats and only one once tried to stalk the hens, one peck and that was it none of them have ever been near since

Lisa · Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:14 pm Post subject:

LOL!! I must learn to type quicker - everyone got there before me Laughing

At least we all agree Rolling Eyes

henparty · Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 11 Location: N.Yorkshire

Thanks for the advice folks Laughing

Will need lots of advice so will be chatting again.
I may get a joiner to make me some panels that are hinged together, then put netting on the top.... Laughing

debcat · Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:58 pm Post subject:

fruit netting works well for the top

Lisa · Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:01 pm Post subject:

Little Acre do panels which fit together with eye hooks at edges and then there is a metal post that you feed through and stick in the ground where you want them:

link to Little Acre web page here

henparty · Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 11 Location: N.Yorkshire