Chicken Run?!?!

[ChuckenChasers]

Ok so we have a coop set up, we have the run set up as well. We are using our old dog kennel panels with chicken wire around it to keep nasty critters away.

My question is...... We know that Chickens need to dust bathe and need grit as do our ducks. Where we have our coop yard at, there is no bare spots for them to bathe in. Do we need to create one for them or will they make one themselves..... and will they be able to get grit from under the grass or do I need to rip some of it up for them?

 

[PD-Riverman]

Ok so we have a coop set up, we have the run set up as well. We are using our old dog kennel panels with chicken wire around it to keep nasty critters away.

My question is...... We know that Chickens need to dust bathe and need grit as do our ducks. Where we have our coop yard at, there is no bare spots for them to bathe in. Do we need to create one for them or will they make one themselves..... and will they be able to get grit from under the grass or do I need to rip some of it up for them?

Nice pens!!! Maybe a temporary dusting set-up or dig up a grass spot----give the yard a little while---it will be bare. I can not see anything across the top of your run---if you got flying predators you might want to put some netting across it. I just use the cheap deer netting----maybe $14 for a 7ft x 100ft piece at Lowes or tractor Supply. Mine has been up several years.

 

[ChuckenChasers]

the middle run above the coop has a cover over it, we will have chicken wire over the top of the sides, they are still in the house atm because they are still getting their feathers. but we are still setting it up. and was wanting everything to be good to go for them.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

Ok so we have a coop set up, we have the run set up as well. We are using our old dog kennel panels with chicken wire around it to keep nasty critters away. My question is...... We know that Chickens need to dust bathe and need grit as do our ducks. Where we have our coop yard at, tthere is no bare spots for them to bathe in.Do we need to create one for them or will they make one themselves..... and will they be able to get grit from under the grass or do I need to rip some of it up for them?

There will be. In the mean time you can use something like a galvanized tub or kid's small pool filed with dirt, sand, peat moss and wood ash. We use peat moss and wood ash. For the grit, depends on your soil. Our soil is clay and we do Deep Litter in our run so we provide grit.

 

[Kates Chooks]

Looks like a great environment for your chicks. One thing I would mention.
It looks like your coop is right on the ground. If that is a coop kit that
you bought, those boards will begin to rot in contact with the ground
sooner than you think. If you plan on keeping that coop for awhile,
I would put it on cinder blocks or bricks to raise it up from ground
contact. Best of luck

 

[PD-Riverman]

If you plan on keeping that coop for awhile,
I would put it on cinder blocks or bricks to raise it up from ground
contact. Best of luck

Or you can cut treated 2x4's the length you need to fit under the part that is setting on the dirt and screw them together----that will save it from rotting so fast.

 

[ChuckenChasers]

Thanks for eveyones input
Hubby had said something about setting the coop up on some boards so they wouldnt go bad so fast when we were putting it together. we kind of forgot to put them out once all the chaos was done. Will have to remind him again when we get more time to work on it.