Large Chicken Coop With Run

Don’t Commercially Raised Hens Have Much Less Space

Yes. Hens in battery cages in the US, for example, have a space about the size of an A4 piece of paper.

Those cages are actually illegal in the European Union, where hens must have enough space to nest, perch and scratch in bedding.

But space allowed in commercial egg production is not what any of us, hopefully, would want for our chickens. Hens there survive but, sadly, suffer.

Make as much room for your hens as you can.

Keeping Your Run Cool In The Summer

It’s much easier for chickens to keep warm than it is to keep cool. Heat exhaustion can be a killer. So there needs to be provision in your run for the flock to keep cool during the summer months.

• Placing the run under a large tree is a great solution if it’s possible. If it’s not an option right now, plant some fruit trees which have the dual benefit of giving shade once they’ve grown, and providing the flock’s very own fruit supply once they’re old enough.

• Trees are an excellent choice in many ways. They also provide shelter from the wind and roots can make a great place for your flock to dig out a dust-bath.

• Hanging a large tarpaulin across a corner of the coop provides some much-needed shade underneath.

• Climbing plants on the fencing can provide shade, although mine never get far before the chickens eat them. Plant on the outside of the run, otherwise the roots will be dug up before they have a chance to become established.

• Make sure you provide plenty of water, frozen treats and other ways of keeping cool, too.

• Give them some dustbathing spaces. As well as helping ward off mites and keeping feathers in good order, it’s another way for chickens to cool off. I offer a range from plantpots to old car tyres to children’s paddling pools!

What If You Only Have A Small Garden

It’s still possible to keep chickens in your small garden or back yard. Just make sure you don’t overdo the numbers. It’s always tempting to buy more chickens, but keep your flock size appropriate to the space you have.

Bear in mind, too, that hens are sociable creatures. They don’t like being on their own. Three hens in a small garden is an ideal number. They have company and, should one unexpectedly die, the others still have each other until you can introduce another to the flock.

So even if you have a bit more space, keep your chickens happy by leaving the number at three and allowing them more space each, rather than increasing the numbers.

A good way of making use of space in a smaller area is having a raised coop like this small one of mine, which has a run area underneath as well as to the side.

This coop was my first. It was advertised as holding 6 hens but in reality that’s far too many. 3 would be an absolute maximum. I used it within a larger run because I don’t see it as being big enough for even 2 hens to be happy.

These days, I still use it within my large run, but only for individual chickens who need to be separated from the flock because of bullying or illness.

For inspiration about creating a chicken friendly back yard, take a look at my book review.

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Speak To A Walk In Chicken Run Ambassador Near You

Omlet Ambassadors are customers turned product eggsperts! They can answer all your questions about the Walk In Chicken Run, and share their experience using it with their hens.

Connect with an ambassador

While the strong materials thought-out the design make it extremely hard for predators to get to your pets, no run is 100% predator proof.

If you live in an area with lots of predators, including wild cats, coyotes and possums, as well as smaller animals like minks and weasels, you might want to consider adding additional protection to the run. If you’ve seen raccoons around your yard, it’s also a good idea to secure doors and latches with extra locks to stop them getting to your flock.

Got another question?Please contact our friendly customer services team or call us on 6464341104.

What To Know Before Buying A Walk

Although these coops are a great option for first time keepers, trying to find the right coop to buy can be overwhelming.

However, there are a few things to consider when buying a walk-in chicken coop.

Here they are:

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Predator Proof Elements In Your Walk

Look for coops that have tightly-locking doors and runs that are strong rather than flimsy.

Windows should have screens on them to prevent predators from getting in and killing your beloved flock.

To take the hard work out of looking for your ideal, Ive put together this handy list of the best walk-in chicken coops, while keeping all of the above in mind.

Easy To Assemble With Helpful How To Build Videos

With the ‘How to Build’ videos, building the run is a breeze.

Your chicken run will arrive flat-packed for easy delivery to your backyard. Then you can just follow the clear step-by-step assembly video filmed in real time, and your chicken runs will be up in no time!

The only tool you will need is a pozi/Philips head screwdriver for the door bolt the rest of the run is assembled using Omlets patented run clips.

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Can I Fit An Automatic Door Opener To This Coop

Most door openers on the market work with doors that open in an up/down direction . Our Devon Hen House has a pop-hole door and has been specifically designed so it can be fitted with any one of these automatic door openers. We unfortuntely don’t have an automatic door opener that can work on the sliding door of the Dorset.

Best Small: Producer’s Pride Mdc001 Sentinel Chicken Coop

• Removable tray for easy cleaning

If youre new to chickens and just want a couple of birds, the Producers Pride Sentinel Chicken Coop is a small and affordable housing option. The manufacturer claims it can house up to six chickens, but most people agree its best suited for a maximum of four. However, this coop is extremely easy to assemble and comes with an integrated run where your chickens can spend their days, making it an all-in-one option for beginner chicken owners.

This small coop is made from thick wood panels and a powder-coated steel frame, and it comes with a wooden ramp that allows your chickens to climb in and out of the enclosed area. There are three nesting boxes, which you can access via a hinged lid, and a sliding door allows you to shut your birds in as needed. The metal floor slides out for easy cleaning, and access doors on both sides of the structure can be locked with predator-resistant latches. The one shortcoming of this coop is it lacks ventilation panels, but you can always install a few onto the wooden siding.

Size: 76 x 36.4 x 48 inches | Materials: Solid wood, powder-coated steel | Capacity: Up to 6 chickens | Chicken Run: Yes

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Best Plans: Coopexpert Chicken Coop Plans

Courtesy of Etsy

• Accommodates up to 12 chickens

• Thorough step-by-step instructions

• Requires basic construction skills

If youre fairly handy and own a few basic power tools, you can build a beautiful chicken coop using the CoopExpert Plans. The plans include detailed step-by-step instructions for constructing a large coop that can hold up to 12 chickens. But the best part is you can easily tweak the design to suit your needs, adding additional roosts, ventilation, access doors, and more. As the plans are written, the coop includes two single-hung windows, three roost rails, and five nesting boxes that are accessible via a hinged lid.

These coop plans are extremely comprehensive, including 31 pages of detailed diagrams and CAD drawings, as well as a material list, cut list, and recommended tools list. Depending on the cost of lumber, the coop will likely cost between $900 and $1,200 to build, but youd likely pay twice as much for a pre-made coop of this size.

Size: 60 x 72 x 81 inches | Materials: N/A | Capacity: Up to 12 chickens | Chicken Run: No

For small-to-medium-sized flocks, the Omlet Eglu Cube Chicken Coop is a well-priced and thoughtfully designed chicken coop. It can hold up to 10 small chickens, and you can add on a matching run and/or coop wheels, depending on your needs. If you only plan to have a few chickens, the TRIXIE Natura Chicken Coop is a small, budget-friendly option that can comfortably accommodate up to four small birds.

Best Run: Producer’s Pride Universal Poultry Pen

Courtesy of Tractor Supply Co.

• Knock-out panel can attach to coop

Unless youre planning to let your chickens free range in your yard, you need some type of runa term for an enclosed area for poultrywhere they can spend time during the day. The Producers Pride Universal Poultry Pen is a top choice for this purpose, as its extremely well-built and designed to protect your chickens from predators when theyre outdoors. The run is 8 x 8 feet and more than 6 feet tall, and its full-size door allows you to walk inside without crouching.

This run is made from rust-resistant powder-coated steel, and its hard mesh roof can protect your birds from aerial predators such as hawks. If you want to connect it directly to your chicken coop, theres a knock-out panel for exactly that purpose, and the door is compatible with most padlocks if you want to provide an additional layer of protection. While this run is fairly pricey, its extremely well made and should keep most predators out. Just keep in mind that it needs to be paired with a coop to provide sufficient housing for your birds.

Size: 96 x 100 x 78 inches | Materials: Rust-resistant powder-coated steel | Capacity: Up to 6 chickens | Chicken Run: Yes

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Other Alternatives To Grass In The Run

Wood chippings and other mulches are generally expensive, but a possible alternative if you have a small-ish run. As an added bonus, they can be composted when the run is cleaned out.

The downside? Dusty in the heat, they tend to go to mush in the rain, so unless you can cover at least part of your run they’re not an ideal solution. And never use cedar chippings – the oils and fumes can be toxic to chickens.

For a very small run of two or three chickens, hemp bedding is an excellent choice. It’s expensive but very absorbent, sustainable, natural and does not contain mites or lice, as some wood chippings have been found to do.

Coarse sand, also known as builder’s sand, is another possible solution for a small to medium-sized run. It drains easily, has the advantage of being a permanent dust-bath and the flock can still scratch through it to the bugs and worms in the soil beneath.

You’ll need to use a thick layer though – anything under about 6″ will simply be absorbed into the soil beneath. And if your run is exposed to the sun in the summer, be careful about heat on your chickens’ feet.

Chopped straw: if you have a small, covered back yard run, you can use chopped straw. But unless it’s covered, it’s not ideal in winter. Damp weather means it doesn’t dry out well, and damp straw creates spores, which can cause problems for the respiratory system, and harbours mites.

If you’re going to use it, keep it dry and clear out any that remains wet.

Trusted By Chicken Keepers In The Us

The stable-style door can be locked from both sides to prevent accidental openings.

The Walk In Chicken run has been designed to give you peace of mind that your flock is having an eggcellent time in the yard, even when youre not around.

The super strong heavy duty steel weld mesh is in a completely different league to traditional chicken wire. Additionally, the unique anti-tunnel skirt that runs along the ground prevents predators from digging in.

Omlets runs have been rigorously tried and tested, and have been keeping thousands of chickens all over the world safe for over 15 years!

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Farmhouse Style Chicken Coop

Why only you have a class, why not also your chickens? With this farmhouse style chicken coop, you can give your chickens an experience of what it feels like living in a farmhouse. This large chicken coop plan also has a kennel attached to it covered with a wired mesh and wooden frame. You will also require some greens to increase the beauty of this coop.

How Secure Does It Need To Be

The short answer is “very”.

Foxes, coyotes, dogs, raccoons, rats, pine martens or any other member of the weasel family, birds of prey — all predators have different ways of getting into your run and therefore your coop. And once that happens, your chickens are instantly someone else’s dinner.

Here’s what chicken runs need, to be as secure as we can make them:

• Fencing that’s at least 6 feet high. Foxes can climb. Chickens can fly.
• Fencing that’s buried at least 18″ deep. Predators like to dig, rats like to burrow.
• An ‘L’ shaped skirt on fencing to stop predators getting anywhere near the bottom of the fence.
• Strong, chan-link fencing. Chicken wire is not strong enough.

• As small a fence gap as possible. Rats and the weasel family will squeeze through the tiniest of holes.
• No overhanging trees. As I learned to my cost, pine martens like to drop into a run from a great height.

• Cover over the top of the run – make it hard for those birds of prey to swoop.
• Padlocks on doors or gates. Raccoons have surprisingly dextrous claws which can open latches in an instant.

Here’s a more detailed article reviewing the different types of fencing for a chicken run.

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Chicken Coops Use Treated Wood

Using treated wood is a fairly controversial topic since most treatments are made up of chemicals.

With that being said, chickens are messy and wet, and in conditions like that, untreated wood simply does not last.

Not only that, it may also become moldy fast, and mold causes respiratory issues, among other things.

Is The Dorset Fox

We would like to think that our coops are made to a higher standard than most other suppliers in this price range. While we have purposely used thicker, sturdier wood, wire and locks with the aim to make it as safe and secure as possible for your chickens we cannot absolutely guarantee that foxes and other predators wont try and target them. Foxes are by far the biggest threat that your pets will face, so if you are going to keep chickens then we also urge you to take these added precautions, especially if you know that you have foxes in your area.

At over 4 meters long and with over 40 sq feet of space the Dorset With Double Run is the ideal unit for those wanting to keep chickens in a self-contained setup while giving them plenty of safe space to scratch about in.

With multiple access points including 4 lockable run doors and 2 lift-up roof panels, you’ll never have a problem tending your chickens while in the run.

The thicker, higher grade wire that we use on our runs and the stong custom made locks are just some of the added safety features that set our chicken coops apart from others in this price range.

The Dorset Coop itself has plenty of access points, including, a large lift up roof, fully removable front panel , an un-boltable nesting box and an extra deep pull out tray.

Inside the large housing area are two removable perches and a nesting box which provides your hens with a dark secluded area in which to lay.

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