Chickens want to scratch, dust-bathe and peck at the grass. How you give them that space depends on your garden and on the predators in the area. Here we compare a fixed, covered run with a portable enclosure using poultry netting.
Two ways to give outdoor space
A fixed run has a frame, mesh all round and usually a roof. It protects day and night, including against birds of prey, and you can put a night coop inside it. The grass inside will be bare after a while; wood chips or sand then keep the ground usable. A portable enclosure with poultry netting is set up around a piece of pasture or lawn and moved when the grass has been eaten down. That gives more green, but offers no protection from above and is no substitute for a closed coop at night.
Buying guide
| Situation | Better suited |
|---|---|
| Small garden, chickens alone during the day | Fixed, covered run |
| Hawk or buzzard seen over the garden | Run with solid roof or net |
| Grassland or orchard available | Portable netting, rotating plots |
| Housing order due to bird flu | Covered run |
What is available now
There are two options in the range. The Cucciolotta Polly Run is a fixed steel run with a cover, big enough to walk into. The Euro-Netz Combi poultry net is 112 centimetres high and has posts with a double ground spike, so it stands firm even in soft ground. Consider whether you want to use the net with an electric fence energiser; without power it keeps the chickens in, but does not always keep a determined fox out.
Points to note
Light breeds easily fly over a net of just over a metre. Wing clipping or a covered run prevents that. Keep the bottom edge of the net clear of long grass, otherwise the current leaks away or chickens crawl underneath.
Explore further: coop and run as a whole, a door that opens by itself, compact chicken coops or all chicken housing.
Frequently asked questions
How high should a chicken net be?
For most hobby breeds, a net of just over a metre works, such as the 112 cm poultry net. Light breeds that fly well can get over it; they are better kept in a covered run.
Can a portable net stay up overnight?
The net keeps the chickens together during the day, but at night they belong in a closed coop. A fox or marten is most active at night.
What do I put on the floor of a fixed run?
Once the grass has gone, wood chips or sand keep the ground dry and usable. Refresh the top layer regularly to limit droppings and parasites.