Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fence and Wire Coops
If you live in an area with mild winters, you don't need solid walls: a wire coop will
suffice. A 6-foot-tall (1.8 m) chain-link dog run is a sturdy, easily assembled structure
with a prehung door. Just add a solid, predator-proof roof and you have an area that you
can walk inside and that the birds find quite suitable. Be sure to cover the entire run with
small-gauge wire, such as hardware cloth, to prevent predators from reaching through
the chain link and killing your birds.
Room to Run
Many raisers provide a house for their flock to lay eggs, eat and sleep, and get in out of
the weather, but also allow them
free range
, which means freedom to roam the property
at will. Zoning regulations or your own space and time limitations may make it impos-
sible to allow the birds to run free in your yard, however. If that's the case, keep in mind
that it's always best if your chickens, and especially waterfowl and turkeys, are provided
some sort of runway or open space to use for fresh air and exercise; they will not be
content if they're kept in a coop their entire lives. Although modern hybrid-cross layers
will probably do fine in confinement when fed a proper ration, keeping heritage-type
chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys confined to a small structure throughout their lives
will probably result in lower productivity. You will not get as many eggs and will not
have happy poultry.
A quail cage can rest on a baking sheet.
Usually 5 to 10 square feet (0.5-1 sq m) per chicken is the minimum outside runway
requirement. This will allow them to get out and get some exercise scratching in the dirt
and they will be much more content. Refer to the chart on
page 23
of this chapter for
minimum run or yarding space requirements.
