Build a Chicken Run; Think First
How big must my chicken run be?
Before you start building a Chicken Run or Chicken Coop it’s necessary to reflect on a couple of things:
-How many chickens will I be keeping
-How much space do I have
-What’s my budget
If you want to keep healthy and happy chickens they will need about 4 square ft. of living space per hen. Overcrowded chicken runs lead to hen riots and cock fights. Not to mention hygienyc problems. Optimal living conditions would be around 10 square ft./ bird, but this would tend to luxury. Let’s keep ‘em happy, not spoiled. 4 to 5 square feet is enough.
When you want to keep chickens in your back yard, I think it is best when the coop and run ‘blend in’. Don’t let the chickens take up all your space. Surround the pen and run with some plants. It keeps their surroundings cool and it looks better. Also, the chicken coop must stay easily accessible for collecting eggs.
As to budget I guess it all speaks for itself. If you are very limited here’s a tip: Start with two or three chickens. This keeps the cost of feeding and building materials low. And sell part of your eggs to buy food for your chickens.
