One of the most important decisions you’ll make is whether or not to provide your birds with a run. A run is an enclosed outdoor area where chickens can exercise, forage for food, and generally enjoy some fresh air and sunshine. In this article, I’ll explore the pros and cons of providing a run for your chickens, and share my own experiences with keeping chickens both with and without a run.
The Benefits of a Chicken Run
There are several benefits to providing your chickens with a run:
- Protection from Predators
A run can provide your chickens with a safe and secure area to roam around in without the risk of being attacked by predators. This is especially important if you live in an area with lots of wildlife, such as raccoons, foxes, or coyotes. - Health and Exercise
Chickens need to be able to move around and stretch their wings to stay healthy and happy. A run provides your chickens with a space to scratch, peck, and forage, which can keep them active and engaged. - Pest Control
Chickens are natural pest controllers, and a run can provide them with a space to hunt and eat insects and other small pests. This can help to keep your yard and garden free of pests without the use of harmful chemicals or pesticides. - Fresh Air and Sunlight
Like all animals, chickens need fresh air and sunlight to stay healthy. A run provides them with a space to bask in the sun and breathe in fresh air, which can help to improve their overall health and well-being.
The Drawbacks of a Chicken Run
While there are many benefits to providing your chickens with a run, there are also some drawbacks to consider:
- Cost
Building or buying a run can be expensive, especially if you want to provide a large, secure area for your chickens to roam around in. - Maintenance
A run requires regular maintenance to keep it clean and free of debris. This can be time-consuming, especially if you have a large number of chickens. - Space Constraints
If you have a small yard, you may not have enough space to provide your chickens with a run. This can be a problem if you want to keep your chickens safe from predators or if you want to provide them with an area to forage and exercise. - Limited Foraging Opportunities
While a run can provide your chickens with some opportunities to forage, it’s still a limited space compared to the open yard. Chickens will quickly eat through all the vegetation and insects within the run, leaving nothing left to forage. This can result in a lack of diversity in their diet and boredom for your chickens.
My Experience with Chicken Runs
I’ve kept chickens both with and without a run, and I’ve found that there are benefits and drawbacks to both approaches. When I first started keeping chickens, I had a small backyard and couldn’t afford to build a run, so my chickens were allowed to free-range during the day and were locked up in a coop at night.
While my free-range chickens enjoyed a more diverse diet and had plenty of space to roam around in, they were also more vulnerable to predators and tended to cause more damage to my garden.
When I moved to a larger property, I decided to build a run for my chickens. This provided them with a safe and secure area to exercise and forage, while also protecting them from predators. However, I did find that the run required more maintenance and cleaning than I had anticipated, and my chickens sometimes seemed bored with the limited space.
Tips for Providing a Chicken Run
If you decide to provide your chickens with a run, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Size Matters – Make sure that your run is big enough to provide your chickens with plenty of space to move around in. A good rule of thumb is to provide at least 10 square feet per bird. If you have a small yard, consider building a smaller run or providing your chickens with a mobile chicken tractor.
- Secure Your Run – Your run should be completely enclosed to protect your chickens from predators. Use sturdy fencing material and bury it at least a foot underground to prevent predators from digging their way in. Make sure that your run has a secure door that can be locked at night.
- Provide Enrichment To keep your chickens entertained and engaged, provide them with some enrichment items in their run. This can include things like perches, hanging toys, and even a dust bath area.
- Clean Regularly To keep your chickens healthy and happy, make sure to clean your run regularly. Remove any debris, such as leaves and sticks, and rake the ground to prevent a buildup of feces. You may also want to consider adding some fresh bedding material to keep the ground dry and comfortable for your chickens.
Conclusion
So, do chickens need a run? The answer ultimately depends on your personal preferences and the needs of your flock. While a run can provide many benefits, such as protection from predators and opportunities for exercise and foraging, it also requires regular maintenance and can be expensive to build or buy.
If you have the space and resources to provide your chickens with a run, it’s definitely worth considering. Just remember to provide a secure and enriching environment, and to clean and maintain the run regularly to keep your chickens healthy and happy.
As a chicken owner, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of providing a run for your birds and make a decision that works best for you and your flock.
