Vine Crop!! Grapes, Nasturtium, peas, cucumber, honeysuckle... Have some vine that the chickens can eat, then attach a wire from top of the fence to the fascia (roof) of the chicken coop and allow it to grow up. Then you also have a 'roof' over the run. The Chickens will love it! Grains or berries would be great to have for forage. Edible Acres on YT has another Epic coop for his ladies and great ideas.
i like the idea of an annual vine like a nasturtium, peas, or cucumbers. From personal experience- grapes NEVER die and require a lot of pruning and maintenance to keep them from going wild. My grandparents grew grapes, mint, and raspberries back in the 60's and 70's. I am still dealing with them :( I don't know how other people grow these things successfully- maybe it is my land- but things just go wild and get out of control in my yard very quickly! I know you have people helping you and you are likely able to devote a lot more time to your garden than I am, BUT... I would hate to see your beautiful epic garden get overrun with invasive things!
I highly suggest a growing canopy to cover the space between the roof of the hen house and the fence. They can certainly jump that height and if you are going to cover it to protect them, why not fill it full of wild grapes or red currants or something like that? :)
@@epichomesteading I live close by in 10b and I’ve thought a fun, fast growing canopy would be to plant a luffa vine and a passion fruit on opposite corners of the space and let them battle it out for canopy supremacy
loved it! how about you grow GRAPES on the back of the coop? that way you can protect that open air area, get some fruit and also let the chickens have some it would also look nice and cool down the area
I was thinking this. Something like a latch work panel of thin wood you could grab from home depot or something, just attach it across, and grow the longest vining grapes they can find. They can keep the roof shorter over the chickens but also cooler too.
Some years back I watched a video by Professor Will Hooker who had some grapes growing over his chicken run and he would go out early in the morning when he let the chickens out and he would shake the grape vines and Japanese beetles would fall out onto the ground and provide the chickens with an early morning snack. He's located in North Carolina where they seem to have an abundance of Japanese beetles.
I guarantee your ladies will be able to jump/fly to perch on that top railing, then get out, especially if they get spooked. You'll need some sort of top protection - at the minimum, a tarp.
We're growing passion fruit and fuzzy kiwi on the outside fence of our chicken run and the fruit and leaves are edible if they can get to them. Eventually, when they get bigger, they will provide shade and protection too as well as damaged fruit can drop down to them. The chicken love a marionberry and goji berry plants that we have inside the run so we have to protect them from the chickens.
I agree that they will learn how to fly up and out. Plus whatever you plant to trail/climb will also attract birds so definitely think that covering it with something to protect them is in order. You did a great job and it looks really nice. This is silly of me but watching you two strapping young men who obviously know how handle power tools has this old lady thinking she could do the same. 😄
I use hawk netting over my run. I have hawks and it really works. The hawks biggest fear is being entangled. I have hostas and sorrel planted in containers around the run. During the summer, I place a planter in the run for them to peck clean. The ladies look very 😊 Happy New Year
One thing I should suggest is, racoons are known to wait by the chicken run and grab them when they get close enough, and that hog fence is far too spaced out that they can easily reach in and kill your chickens. You might want to look into Hardware cloth if you do have racoons hanging out in that area. It's high likely it wont happen in the day time, but things *still* can happen. Increase the defense/protection for your chickens during their time out of the coop!
Nice job guys! I will give one piece of advise: Get a side handle for your DeWalt drill! Using a Power Planted is great one if it snags on a root or rock or hits heavy clay your wrist will pay for it when that drill torques! Not all DeWalt hammer drills can have a side handle attached to it (it needs to have a stationary collar forward of the clutch set ring). Until then…use your other hand to steady the top of the drill as you dig holes. Believe, I know!
I wouldn't put a planter too close but I would grow some marigold and other herbs that are good for them to snack on the other side of the fence. Also if you haven't already, make sure they have a good place to dirt bathe, it helps with pests. Happy New Year!
I have mint and cat mint planted around my run. They do eat a little as it grows through the wire, and the mint smell hides the chicken poop smell. I grow them in sunken containers.
Did something similar with the no dig gating system from Lowes a few years back. Only really had one bird that jumped it to peck at some of the things growing on the other side but always went back. It may be because we created so many things that keep them busy in the run: fruit trees and edible bushes specifically for them to peck and forage. You may need to make some adjustments depending on your birds temperament but hopefully they enjoy their new area as much as ours do.
If you are thinking about some planter boxes outside the front of the run, how about building a livestock panel structure that would connect the top of the run fence to the roof of the coop? Then plant vines that would go up the run fence and arc over the run for shade. Maybe a kiwi vine?
Falcons and hawks will absolutely get into that small gap (learned by example). some bird netting above will help but any gap will allow them in, and they will get stuck and fly into the netting so best to have everything sealed off. Even with bird netting, I have lost a few as the larger hawks will attempt to slam through the netting if they feel they can. I keep a board nearby to hold them down when needed, heavy gloves to grab them and release them. Nature finds a way! lol. Good luck. :)
Quick moveable run, find a frame from a above ground swimming pool, wrap it with wire, chain link fencing, netting, orange fencing you see at construction sites, snow fences, I have a tunnel that goes from the coop to it, it's between my fruit tree rows, mine is a 16' round, 4 people can move it, works great for us.
You want them to forage for greenery without them ripping the plants out? Pick the section of their new yard that gets the most light, get some fine gauge mesh that can be laid over that section of ground that the chickens can walk over without their feet slipping through. Raise the mesh up off the ground with a wooden frame so that the chooks can walk over the mesh and they will be suspended about an inch or so above the ground. NOW broadcast sow a heap of grass or whatever you want, underneath this raised mesh platform. When the grass grows it will grow up through the mesh and the chooks can walk around nipping off the tips of the grass without yanking the plants out. They will also fertilise the grass as they feed! It will stop them turning any patch of ground into an instant dust / mud bowl. Clever ay.
I'd still try to give some type of netting/protection on top. I've seen time and time again with my chickens, that not only do hawks dive but, sometimes land in trees in my run or on the roof and jump down from there to get them. They can literally jump down and run/hop at the chickens to get them if they don't have a place to go to get away. With the wood braces you have on the top of the run, you could just attach some 1x2 or whatever you have as "poles" coming up from the wood as attachment points to drape your netting from the coop to the "poles" For what to plant for them, chickens like dewberries and blueberries, which when grown enough will give shade to them in the summer. If you plant thornless dewberries (so they don't hurt themselves) they will trail up and they can pick them off in the late spring! (might turn some of their poop blue/purple though lol)
Hey Kevin and crew, I’ve been consuming tons of your videos for a while now, I’m anticipating lots of new gardeners this year, I’ve got a fair bit of space but perhaps a little bit of additional content of container gardening with micro versions of popular plants would be helpful for people. Keep being epic! Thanks!
I had my doubts at the start, but the fence turned out looking good. I'd maybe put a few springs on the gates so they are self-closing so that the chickens can roam further. Even the most mindful person can forget to close a gate on occasion.
I learned a lot. Can't believe the auger attached to a drill works that well for post holes and those little clips to hold hog wire is a lot better than staples that I end up hitting my fingers about 10 times with a hammer and if you make a mistake hard to get out. I've been freeranging but lost 2 because whet to neighbors and he hasnt returned them. Good idea about planting around pen for hens to forage. Thanks what I have now is a bit of an eyesore. your setup looks great. Thanks for all the tips
Hanging planters with calendula flowers! Nasturtiums would be nice too. Just for them. Although you wouldn't want them flying up to reach the planters.
You can add easy trellis for veins by using ladder mesh for rebar, it is 10- ft long and you could curve it up from the fence to the roof tall enough so you don’t have to duck your head, also will provide shade and overhead protection from birds. It is very light weight but sturdy.
Your run looks so sleek and nice! We just rehomed our three girls. They were being stalked by hawk/hawks that were just relentless. Their run had chicken wire covering but there was a, maybe, 3 inch gap between the house and wire and a hawk found it’s way in there and was just crawling around upside down hanging unto the chicken wire waiting to snatch up one of our girls. Our girls were good for a year until the hawks took an interest, I think some sort of bird of prey protection is a good idea. Can’t wait to see your additions.
Here in Hawai’i, we have mongoose and they would go through and over that run. Someday, I’ll be able to build a nugget rage proof coop and run. I like the ideas people have for the vining plants for over the top of your run. Great idea.
I would put one or two thin wires on top all around the fence. Chikens can fly high, and when they see a plank on top of the fence, they will fly up and try to sit on it. Chickens have a bit bad sight, and if there is a wire above it, they will fly into it and think there Is a invisble fence and not try to fly above. Also, bushes are god for chikens to hide under and make it harder for hawks to spot them and catch them
I love that you gave them a day run. My brother and nephew helped build one for my girls. Yours looks great, so far! I’m worried that although the wood looks good on top, that you gave them a perch to fly up to and then they’ll be able to jump down and out. I would make it taller and/or put a cover over it all. Even a simple netting cover would work. If nothing else it will keep your girls in and squirrels, crows, etc.. from getting in and eating their food. Now you can have your girls start making you compost for the garden! They’ll love tilling and you’ll get the benefit. ❤❤
I’m going to make a run extension and this is a great idea. I definitely think having a cover over top like hardware cloth or hawk netting will help prevent hawks from getting In and hens getting our
Dude, great video. I've been giving a lot of thought to the air cover situation for my chickens and, I kind of think I'm leaning toward putting figs in. My neighbor has 6 colossal figs in his front and side yards and even this time of year, when they're just starting to bud out, the branches would frustrate any raptor. They get the shade in the summer time and a sheltered sky view in the cooler months. Thanks for what you do.
Sunflowers along the fence would be nice. My chickens love the seeds. Some gross things to try are maggot buckets, soldier fly composter, and mealworm farm.
Please plant some shrubs an hedges! Preferably with edible fruits for the hens. Shrubs will also attract beneficial insects and food for the hens as well. The chicks will also feel much safer with some cover
A simple cheap fix for overhead behind the coop next to the garage is run some fishing line between the 2 building and the take some short strands and tie them to the cross sections leaving the tails loose to flap in the wind birds can't judge the distance between the lines so they will not try to fly through them
Love the run! I honestly don't know if this works, but friends who kept chickens in their yard here strung up fishing line and hung reflective decorative things. They said the hawks (which we have a lot of) would get confused by their own reflections moving as they dived and move on
Section off..sprout greens and rotate,by putting in second timed hatch on back side..then plant blooming vines,morning glory,passion fruit, elderberry whatever you want
What about some more hog panel that angles over to the roof of the coop from the fence. You could grow some passionfruit vines or something similar to give them some shade and predator protection. Or seasonal vines so they get more sun in the winter and shade in the summer. Either way the additional angled hog panel with give them lots of extra protection even when nothing is growing on it. It could go taller vertically before you angle it over so that you can still walk under it.
I'm so happy to that you finally added the epic chickens. Now you just need epic ducks. I just added 3 to the 11 chickens. They are so fun! Love the run, helps me with ideas.
You can plant, currants, goumi or some similar shrubs near the run, and the chickens will be able to forage fruits while they fertilize the plants. With a little bit of protection around the crown and roots, you could even plant some perennial chicken snacks inside the run.
I'm thinking some sort of fruit tree right there where you were standing last, by the water tank. It would eventually camouflage the water tank, keep it cooler in the summer, give the girls some natural cover and give fruit.
Love this addition! I've always planned on getting a little coop in the backyard if I ever moved to a house with more space and a bigger backyard. I'm gonna be living vicariously through you for now though!
Looks great! Curious if your chickens have jumped your fence yet. Our neighbors chickens would jump the 6ft fence into our yard and into our house! 😂 I wondered if jumping is common. 🤔 I would add the netting over the run, just because I’m paranoid. 😊
I hope your girls, don't get bored with their nice new run and jump up over the top, like mine did. My fence was 4 foot 6 inches tall... But, a job well done!
I just giggled when I realized they weren’t adding a top to the new space. I let my chickens free range for about a month after all of my fall/winter crops are out of the garden and before I start planting the new season and the rooster loves to walk around the top of the garden fence which happens to be 6 feet tall. It’s a beauty of a fence but maybe he clips their wing feathers????😂😂
Could you get more hog panel and use it as roofing, going from the roof to the new fencing where the horizontal wood strips are? It would be high enough that you still would clear it without having to bend over. It wouldn't even have to be continuous, but could be. You could alternate it with polycarbonate panels or do the whole thing with them. Last time I was pricing them, they were not expensive...maybe $35 for a large sheet.
Planters are a great idea, I wonder a bout a small tree to block the water tank as well. Or planters along the back wall to hang or grow up from? Then you could see the chickens but block the concrete.
I say build a browse garden on the outside of their hog panel so they can munch through the fencing without digging it up. We've done peas, malabar spinach, melons, and cucumbers.
When you started trying to add that flimsy cage wire to your $40, 000 chicken coop, I understood that Kevin hasn't ever actually built any of the improvements on the property himself.
Happy new year everyone...what do you want to see us tackle this year on the homestead!?
The marvelous melon bonanza
Bees!!!!
So uhhh… chickens- especially healthy ones can fly at least 6ft up. That fence gonna do nothin buddy 😂
Growing a coconut 🥥🌴 ❤️🥰
Hops! Then try making beer. 😁
Vine Crop!! Grapes, Nasturtium, peas, cucumber, honeysuckle... Have some vine that the chickens can eat, then attach a wire from top of the fence to the fascia (roof) of the chicken coop and allow it to grow up. Then you also have a 'roof' over the run. The Chickens will love it! Grains or berries would be great to have for forage. Edible Acres on YT has another Epic coop for his ladies and great ideas.
Fantastic ideas...I'll check them out!
@@epichomesteading Could also put strawberries along the bottom edges. Chickens also like cannabis leaves.
this was the same thing I thought about
Yes!! I was coming here to say some sort of vine that can be grown overhead!
i like the idea of an annual vine like a nasturtium, peas, or cucumbers. From personal experience- grapes NEVER die and require a lot of pruning and maintenance to keep them from going wild. My grandparents grew grapes, mint, and raspberries back in the 60's and 70's. I am still dealing with them :( I don't know how other people grow these things successfully- maybe it is my land- but things just go wild and get out of control in my yard very quickly! I know you have people helping you and you are likely able to devote a lot more time to your garden than I am, BUT... I would hate to see your beautiful epic garden get overrun with invasive things!
I highly suggest a growing canopy to cover the space between the roof of the hen house and the fence. They can certainly jump that height and if you are going to cover it to protect them, why not fill it full of wild grapes or red currants or something like that? :)
One has jumped out already, so I will need to adjust!
Currants would be awesome.
@@epichomesteading I live close by in 10b and I’ve thought a fun, fast growing canopy would be to plant a luffa vine and a passion fruit on opposite corners of the space and let them battle it out for canopy supremacy
It looks great! One very EASY fix to deter hawks is a network of (dead) tree branches as a canopy. You don't need many & you could make it decorative.
Good idea!
Wouldn't that become more of a perch for the hawks to land on?
loved it! how about you grow GRAPES on the back of the coop? that way you can protect that open air area, get some fruit and also let the chickens have some
it would also look nice and cool down the area
I was thinking this. Something like a latch work panel of thin wood you could grab from home depot or something, just attach it across, and grow the longest vining grapes they can find. They can keep the roof shorter over the chickens but also cooler too.
@@jillsarcasmo right! Beautiful and productive :)
I LOVE the idea of grapes. Got me thinkin' now...
Some years back I watched a video by Professor Will Hooker who had some grapes growing over his chicken run and he would go out early in the morning when he let the chickens out and he would shake the grape vines and Japanese beetles would fall out onto the ground and provide the chickens with an early morning snack. He's located in North Carolina where they seem to have an abundance of Japanese beetles.
My chickens love grapes!! It’s so cute to watch them jump and eat them!!
I guarantee your ladies will be able to jump/fly to perch on that top railing, then get out, especially if they get spooked. You'll need some sort of top protection - at the minimum, a tarp.
Completely agree. I would suggest either bird netting or shade cloth. Inexpensive and effective.
Maybe a cattle panel or twine and plant something that will cover it - beautiful greenery that is natural and provides shade.
Yep that's looking like the right move
And predators can still get in. That's the last thing you want to come out to!
Lol… I felt like I was watching a home makeover show when Jaque said “it’s gonna open up a lot of space”
LOL
We're growing passion fruit and fuzzy kiwi on the outside fence of our chicken run and the fruit and leaves are edible if they can get to them. Eventually, when they get bigger, they will provide shade and protection too as well as damaged fruit can drop down to them. The chicken love a marionberry and goji berry plants that we have inside the run so we have to protect them from the chickens.
I agree that they will learn how to fly up and out. Plus whatever you plant to trail/climb will also attract birds so definitely think that covering it with something to protect them is in order. You did a great job and it looks really nice. This is silly of me but watching you two strapping young men who obviously know how handle power tools has this old lady thinking she could do the same. 😄
I use hawk netting over my run. I have hawks and it really works. The hawks biggest fear is being entangled. I have hostas and sorrel planted in containers around the run. During the summer, I place a planter in the run for them to peck clean. The ladies look very 😊 Happy New Year
The chicken conversation was critical. I love it. Keep up the great work, Epic Team!
One thing I should suggest is, racoons are known to wait by the chicken run and grab them when they get close enough, and that hog fence is far too spaced out that they can easily reach in and kill your chickens. You might want to look into Hardware cloth if you do have racoons hanging out in that area. It's high likely it wont happen in the day time, but things *still* can happen. Increase the defense/protection for your chickens during their time out of the coop!
Yes, that's exactly what parenthood is like. They don't listen to you aaaaand sometimes you lose your cool and yell at them 😂
Definitely like the idea of allowing them to forage for their own food. Your turning out to be a great chicken daddy. 💐
Nice job guys! I will give one piece of advise: Get a side handle for your DeWalt drill! Using a Power Planted is great one if it snags on a root or rock or hits heavy clay your wrist will pay for it when that drill torques! Not all DeWalt hammer drills can have a side handle attached to it (it needs to have a stationary collar forward of the clutch set ring). Until then…use your other hand to steady the top of the drill as you dig holes. Believe, I know!
I wouldn't put a planter too close but I would grow some marigold and other herbs that are good for them to snack on the other side of the fence. Also if you haven't already, make sure they have a good place to dirt bathe, it helps with pests. Happy New Year!
I have mint and cat mint planted around my run. They do eat a little as it grows through the wire, and the mint smell hides the chicken poop smell. I grow them in sunken containers.
Did something similar with the no dig gating system from Lowes a few years back. Only really had one bird that jumped it to peck at some of the things growing on the other side but always went back. It may be because we created so many things that keep them busy in the run: fruit trees and edible bushes specifically for them to peck and forage. You may need to make some adjustments depending on your birds temperament but hopefully they enjoy their new area as much as ours do.
These build videos are some of my favorite videos you produce hands down!!
If you are thinking about some planter boxes outside the front of the run, how about building a livestock panel structure that would connect the top of the run fence to the roof of the coop? Then plant vines that would go up the run fence and arc over the run for shade. Maybe a kiwi vine?
This is what I was thinking as well!❤
Great job Kevin and Jaque the hens are gonna love that space
You should put an herb planter bed outside the fence they can reach through and eat
That's the idea!
I adore you giving us a look at things that end up not being perfect. It looks amazing!
You need... like a cat tree for your chicks. Towers and roosts would be really cool. If you loved them you would make a princess castle for them.
Falcons and hawks will absolutely get into that small gap (learned by example). some bird netting above will help but any gap will allow them in, and they will get stuck and fly into the netting so best to have everything sealed off. Even with bird netting, I have lost a few as the larger hawks will attempt to slam through the netting if they feel they can. I keep a board nearby to hold them down when needed, heavy gloves to grab them and release them. Nature finds a way! lol. Good luck. :)
Love this. We decided on electric portable fencing so we can move them around. It's how Texans control scorpions.
Quick moveable run, find a frame from a above ground swimming pool, wrap it with wire, chain link fencing, netting, orange fencing you see at construction sites, snow fences, I have a tunnel that goes from the coop to it, it's between my fruit tree rows, mine is a 16' round, 4 people can move it, works great for us.
You want them to forage for greenery without them ripping the plants out?
Pick the section of their new yard that gets the most light, get some fine gauge mesh that can be laid over that section of ground that the chickens can walk over without their feet slipping through. Raise the mesh up off the ground with a wooden frame so that the chooks can walk over the mesh and they will be suspended about an inch or so above the ground.
NOW broadcast sow a heap of grass or whatever you want, underneath this raised mesh platform.
When the grass grows it will grow up through the mesh and the chooks can walk around nipping off the tips of the grass without yanking the plants out.
They will also fertilise the grass as they feed! It will stop them turning any patch of ground into an instant dust / mud bowl.
Clever ay.
I'd still try to give some type of netting/protection on top. I've seen time and time again with my chickens, that not only do hawks dive but, sometimes land in trees in my run or on the roof and jump down from there to get them. They can literally jump down and run/hop at the chickens to get them if they don't have a place to go to get away.
With the wood braces you have on the top of the run, you could just attach some 1x2 or whatever you have as "poles" coming up from the wood as attachment points to drape your netting from the coop to the "poles"
For what to plant for them, chickens like dewberries and blueberries, which when grown enough will give shade to them in the summer. If you plant thornless dewberries (so they don't hurt themselves) they will trail up and they can pick them off in the late spring! (might turn some of their poop blue/purple though lol)
Some hanging lights would be pretty! Like patio lights or something.
Hey Kevin and crew, I’ve been consuming tons of your videos for a while now, I’m anticipating lots of new gardeners this year, I’ve got a fair bit of space but perhaps a little bit of additional content of container gardening with micro versions of popular plants would be helpful for people. Keep being epic! Thanks!
Good call!
I had my doubts at the start, but the fence turned out looking good.
I'd maybe put a few springs on the gates so they are self-closing so that the chickens can roam further. Even the most mindful person can forget to close a gate on occasion.
Great idea on the springs!
Love the upgrade to the hog panels. Looks really good. I really enjoy seeing your space change and improve. Happy New Year!
Custom pergola; could do some vining plants/crops and would serve as a bird of prey cover. Multi-purpose for the win and it’ll look sweet 😎✌️
I learned a lot. Can't believe the auger attached to a drill works that well for post holes and those little clips to hold hog wire is a lot better than staples that I end up hitting my fingers about 10 times with a hammer and if you make a mistake hard to get out. I've been freeranging but lost 2 because whet to neighbors and he hasnt returned them. Good idea about planting around pen for hens to forage. Thanks what I have now is a bit of an eyesore. your setup looks great. Thanks for all the tips
Hanging planters with calendula flowers! Nasturtiums would be nice too. Just for them. Although you wouldn't want them flying up to reach the planters.
Happy New Year! I think the planters would be an amazing addition.
You can add easy trellis for veins by using ladder mesh for rebar, it is 10- ft long and you could curve it up from the fence to the roof tall enough so you don’t have to duck your head, also will provide shade and overhead protection from birds. It is very light weight but sturdy.
The homestead keeps getting better and better. Good job guys
Your run looks so sleek and nice! We just rehomed our three girls. They were being stalked by hawk/hawks that were just relentless. Their run had chicken wire covering but there was a, maybe, 3 inch gap between the house and wire and a hawk found it’s way in there and was just crawling around upside down hanging unto the chicken wire waiting to snatch up one of our girls. Our girls were good for a year until the hawks took an interest, I think some sort of bird of prey protection is a good idea. Can’t wait to see your additions.
I'm thinking grapevine trellis over top of them for some shade in the summer
Run streamers on string lights. Keeps the hawks away and sets a nice ambiance at night. 👍
It's beautiful and I love it....but I can tell you I have 8ft fences on my chicken run and still had to make a wire roof to keep them in.
I would make it a pergola and either put shade cloth and or grow vine crops for the chickens or grapes. Will give them nice shade in the summer.
Here in Hawai’i, we have mongoose and they would go through and over that run. Someday, I’ll be able to build a nugget rage proof coop and run. I like the ideas people have for the vining plants for over the top of your run. Great idea.
I would put one or two thin wires on top all around the fence. Chikens can fly high, and when they see a plank on top of the fence, they will fly up and try to sit on it. Chickens have a bit bad sight, and if there is a wire above it, they will fly into it and think there Is a invisble fence and not try to fly above.
Also, bushes are god for chikens to hide under and make it harder for hawks to spot them and catch them
3:20 be careful breathing in the concrete dust, our lungs have water, imagine what that dust does to them lol
Good warning!
I used to get grass clippings from the neighbours lawn business and dump it in the yard in a big mountain chickens loved it
I love that you gave them a day run. My brother and nephew helped build one for my girls. Yours looks great, so far! I’m worried that although the wood looks good on top, that you gave them a perch to fly up to and then they’ll be able to jump down and out. I would make it taller and/or put a cover over it all. Even a simple netting cover would work. If nothing else it will keep your girls in and squirrels, crows, etc.. from getting in and eating their food. Now you can have your girls start making you compost for the garden! They’ll love tilling and you’ll get the benefit. ❤❤
Oh and I grew beans, peppers and tomatoes in raised planters outside my day run last year and the girls jumped up to take bites. Super cute.
Yeah a few have mentioned that! I will see what they do w/ it
Kevin (Eric) I really appreciate over time how you have gotten a nice flow with Jacques. Nice video
I’m going to make a run extension and this is a great idea. I definitely think having a cover over top like hardware cloth or hawk netting will help prevent hawks from getting In and hens getting our
Haha I’m dead over here watching you and Jacques struggle 😂. But it turned out great!!
Dude, great video. I've been giving a lot of thought to the air cover situation for my chickens and, I kind of think I'm leaning toward putting figs in. My neighbor has 6 colossal figs in his front and side yards and even this time of year, when they're just starting to bud out, the branches would frustrate any raptor. They get the shade in the summer time and a sheltered sky view in the cooler months.
Thanks for what you do.
Sunflowers along the fence would be nice. My chickens love the seeds. Some gross things to try are maggot buckets, soldier fly composter, and mealworm farm.
Ya, chickens will love jumping on that low gate, then getting up on that next fence.
Please plant some shrubs an hedges! Preferably with edible fruits for the hens. Shrubs will also attract beneficial insects and food for the hens as well. The chicks will also feel much safer with some cover
I believe wild chickens live under trees. My suggestion: something like a small tree would probably make them feel even more at home outside.
Love this
Good idea. Chickens love trees.
Love it! I would not plant it inside the chicken area as they might unwittingly destroy it. Mulberry is a particular favorite from what I hear!
AHahaha, the chickens did the laughing in that intro. Genius!
I hope we'll be adding some cuties to our family this year, and I mean the chickens 🥰.. even though we do welcome both Kevin and Jacques 😁
We will!
on those gates, you should put a diagonal piece of wood going from the top no post side to the bottom post side to prevent it from sagging over time.
A simple cheap fix for overhead behind the coop next to the garage is run some fishing line between the 2 building and the take some short strands and tie them to the cross sections leaving the tails loose to flap in the wind birds can't judge the distance between the lines so they will not try to fly through them
Good call!
Love the run!
I honestly don't know if this works, but friends who kept chickens in their yard here strung up fishing line and hung reflective decorative things. They said the hawks (which we have a lot of) would get confused by their own reflections moving as they dived and move on
Good call!
@@epichomesteading bird scare tape Is sold at Tractor Supply
I think planter boxes on either side of the fence would look really nice.
Section off..sprout greens and rotate,by putting in second timed hatch on back side..then plant blooming vines,morning glory,passion fruit, elderberry whatever you want
Chickens also like mulberry! The leaves and fruit are a favorite of the chickens here :)
What about some more hog panel that angles over to the roof of the coop from the fence. You could grow some passionfruit vines or something similar to give them some shade and predator protection. Or seasonal vines so they get more sun in the winter and shade in the summer. Either way the additional angled hog panel with give them lots of extra protection even when nothing is growing on it. It could go taller vertically before you angle it over so that you can still walk under it.
As long as I can get under it, I'm down!
The chickens would love having a low compost ring that they can scratch in in there.
I planted grapes along the border of mine, the girls get what grows inwards we get what grows outwards. Win-win😊
Oh i love this so much! I don't have chickens yet, but seeing your journey into chicken parenthood makes me excited to get some!
I'm so happy to that you finally added the epic chickens. Now you just need epic ducks. I just added 3 to the 11 chickens. They are so fun! Love the run, helps me with ideas.
Ducks really need a pond to be happy.
@@cheriekalel9578 not at all. My ducks do not have a pond and are very happy. They do get play time but not everyday
I love the idea of the planters and hanging plants for them to snack on and protect them more.
You can plant, currants, goumi or some similar shrubs near the run, and the chickens will be able to forage fruits while they fertilize the plants. With a little bit of protection around the crown and roots, you could even plant some perennial chicken snacks inside the run.
I'm thinking some sort of fruit tree right there where you were standing last, by the water tank. It would eventually camouflage the water tank, keep it cooler in the summer, give the girls some natural cover and give fruit.
Love this addition! I've always planned on getting a little coop in the backyard if I ever moved to a house with more space and a bigger backyard. I'm gonna be living vicariously through you for now though!
Sunflowers, natural tree branches, mulch layer, Picking herbs
Looks great! Curious if your chickens have jumped your fence yet. Our neighbors chickens would jump the 6ft fence into our yard and into our house! 😂 I wondered if jumping is common. 🤔 I would add the netting over the run, just because I’m paranoid. 😊
Add some fishing line or string lights for predatory birds and the planter! Maybe a dirt bath hole 🕳
I hope your girls, don't get bored with their nice new run and jump up over the top, like mine did. My fence was 4 foot 6 inches tall... But, a job well done!
@@swamphanger5256 I did...way back ...my girls are super heroes...they still got out...up and over...they just jumped....LOL
I just giggled when I realized they weren’t adding a top to the new space. I let my chickens free range for about a month after all of my fall/winter crops are out of the garden and before I start planting the new season and the rooster loves to walk around the top of the garden fence which happens to be 6 feet tall. It’s a beauty of a fence but maybe he clips their wing feathers????😂😂
@@petpawteek8776 Yes, the boys did a great job but, if their hens are anything like mine...clipping the wings won't help...LOL
Gucci and Buttah trash talking your building skills was peak comedy 😭🤣 we love those ungrateful girls!!
I speak from sad experience - ALWAYS protect from hawks! I vote for that as your next project.
😂 “is this what having kids is like?”
Yes. Yes it is. Lol
Could you get more hog panel and use it as roofing, going from the roof to the new fencing where the horizontal wood strips are? It would be high enough that you still would clear it without having to bend over. It wouldn't even have to be continuous, but could be. You could alternate it with polycarbonate panels or do the whole thing with them. Last time I was pricing them, they were not expensive...maybe $35 for a large sheet.
Planters are a great idea, I wonder a bout a small tree to block the water tank as well. Or planters along the back wall to hang or grow up from? Then you could see the chickens but block the concrete.
Lol great video Kevin and Jacque 🐔
For eye balling, that looks so clean, i like it.
Great decision to stop and regroup on the chicken run. Wow does it look great. Really classy looking. Congrats!
Great job on the extra run space for the chickees! Check out THE GARDEN ANSWER and see the chicken fodder that Laura just planted for her hens.🐔🐔🐔
Great Coop! we also have chickens, provide us with great eggs and manure for the garden! I might do a video soon on my channel!
Sounds great!
nice chicken run, your chickens are loving you right this second
Chickenlandia made a video about salade bars for chickens. Narrow ones around might be an option. And of course happy new year 🎉🐓🐣
I did cucumber last season and it was wonderful! I could barely keep up with the cucumber production so the girls got plenty of treats :)
I say build a browse garden on the outside of their hog panel so they can munch through the fencing without digging it up. We've done peas, malabar spinach, melons, and cucumbers.
I would add overhead protection for flying predators or ones that can climb.
Add plants! There are so many plants that can thrive in the run. They can hide under it as well as makes it look a lot prettier.
When you started trying to add that flimsy cage wire to your $40, 000 chicken coop, I understood that Kevin hasn't ever actually built any of the improvements on the property himself.
I didn't built the shed, coop, or pond, you're right! Not my area of expertise
He's learning. He did a good job for a novice.
a coyote broke into a friend's very secure coop and massacred the flock so I think the run should be covered!
In the last video you mentioned there are hawks ,in your area so make sure to put a roof or sum wire on top of your chicken run.
So excited for your chickies!!!!🎉
A simple pergola with a small vine growing on it would double as a bit of shade and shelter from aerial predators.
You might consider overhead protection. Perch and grab is real.