An emergency coop and run area.

[poly]

I don't have any chickens yet but want to be prepared for when they arrive and also any problems that might arise!

Would it be suitable to create a separate section within the main run for those times when 1 or 2 of the chickens need separating for a short period due to bullying? I was thinking of creating an add on divider and possibly having a spare small coop to place into this smaller section of the run (with a feeder/drinker etc etc). I would make sure the divider was secure and had the option of being solid if needed so the chickens couldn't see each other if that was the better solution.

Would this be a suitable solution or should the bullied or bully be in a small run/coop further away? I was thinking the add on section would just be about 3ft high (ish?). It would also be much easier for me to do this, than have another small run somewhere else.

I have room inside for emergencies (illness etc) but I wondered if it is better to offer a solution which was more natural and less strange for any times when the chickens need separating due to nasty bullying. I appreciate there will be some hen pecking in order to work out who's boss etc but I'm thinking of those severe cases! I just want to be prepared!

Any thoughts?

 

[Marigold]

I think that a spare area where the flock can be divided is essential. Whenever you introduce new birds to existing ones, they need to be quarantined for two weeks, and this also gives them time to settle in, get to know the other newbies, and undergo a course of Flubenvet wormer before joining the older gang. And as you say, any sick or bullied bird can be safely cared for in the spare area.
There’s no need to make a totally separate unit. If you have a walk-in run, you can make a mesh screen to go across one end, which can be removed when not in use to give the whole flock maximum space. It’s likely that you’ll only use the spare area occasionally and it’s wasted space if not used when not needed. If the old and the new birds are separated by mesh they will see each other and become used to each other before being fully introduced. And if separating an older bird who is sick, the others will remember her and there won’t be problems when sh3 is reintroduced. Of course when you get your first lot of hens you won’t need to do any of this as it will be new to all of them at the same time.

For occasional use you would only need a ground-level box for them to roost in. They don’t have to perch, but if you could also provide a low perch and a higher one, they might choose to use them in preference to a coop, as mine do. I’m assuming your run will be roofed and secure.

I would definitely advise against a small run only 3 ft high. How would you get in to clean it up, or to catch a bird, except by crawling on hands and knees - and getting hen poo on your trousers!

 

[poly]

Great, I had wondered why more people don't seem to just section of a small section of their main run for emergencies..seems an easier solution.

The whole coop will be around 90square feet and just over 6ft high but I was thinking the sectioned off fence would only have to be 3ft high so I can step over into it?! It would be within the main run anyway so it will have a solid roof and fox proof mesh etc. I'll only be getting ex-battery hens and I've read quite a few incidents of the odd one being bullied on arrival even though they are all new. I'd just hate to not be prepared and not have an instant solution should the bullying be bad or one of them is less healthy and need of some tlc for a day or so.

I'll look into doing that then and I'll maybe look out for a box or small second hand coop for emergencies!

I've got lots of spare heavy slabs I can place the run onto. They are about 2ftx2ft so I could place them so there is about 1 1/2 feet outside of the run. Do you think this is sufficient to stop foxes and rats? Its thick clay soil so I'm hoping I don't have to dig down to make it fox/rat proof? I've never heard of any foxes in the area but I wouldn't want to take risks..

Thanks for your help Marigold

 

[Marigold]

Hens will easily hop over a little 3ft fence that you could step over, from both sides! Hence the need for a mesh screen if you divide your run. Is it going to be about 9ft by 10ft? That’s fine for up to 4-5 hens.

The slabs will be fine. Good against foxes, if there are any where you live, and also rats that will try to tunnel in underneath the run. My run base is covered with 1/2” mesh, attached to the mesh sides all round, and although rats do try to tunnel underneath it keeps them out, as would slabs. You’ll need a nice thick 10cms of bedding on top of the slabs as they are a bit hard and cold, Aubiose or one of the other types, which will also make poopicking easier and provide you with superb compost mix.

 

[poly]

Thanks again Marigold 17

The run is going to be 6x15ft and I was originally thinking of getting 3 ex-battery hens but I think I'll maybe adopt 4. I'll look into preparing a 4-5ft high fence divider or even the full height with a gate. I had read somewhere that the ex-battery hens which are usually fairly big are not great jumpers..but knowing me I'll adopt ones that are! :lol:

I wasn't going to have slabs in the run just put the run frame onto them around the edge and have the slabs more outside the run than in, if that makes sense?! I was then going to use hard wood chip, a deep layer of it inside the run.

I'm sure I'll have other questions at some point. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and advice, really helpful

 

[Marigold]

If you’re just going to have slabs round the sides, that’s fine against foxes, but rats will dig under them, pop up in your run, eat the hens food and contaminate their water. I’d recommend lining the floor of the run with 1/2” weldmesh, then putting the slabs on top to fasten it down round the edges. Then, when like me you see rat tunnels underneath, they won’t be able to get into the run, and you can block the tunnels by pouring fine gravel down int9 them through the mesh.
Line the mesh with a layer of weedproof membrane, and then put the slabs, and the bedding, on top. The membrane will iron out the mesh so the hens can’t dig in it and possibly catch toes or other injuries, and it will make it much easier to sweep up the bedding when necessary. Fix it down with metal tent pegs round the sides. The plastic pegs used for membrane on an earth surface will be too wide to go through the fine mesh.

 

[poly]

I've read a few things about not putting mesh on the floor or weed membrane for various reasons. I was planning on removing the food and water each night when I checked on them as this would be easy and I can change the water in the morning. I have wild bird feeders in a similar area to where the run will be and no rats bother with them. We have quite a lot of cats in the area which seem to do a good job in keeping rats in hand but I guess chickens might be more enticing for them! :roll: So much to think about!