POULTRY

Run

According to your country’s laws, you may need to keep your flock under cover during the migration season and to protect your birds.
It is always advisable, even for just a few birds, to provide a run with an overhead protection of netting to secure them from predator attacks and wild birds accessing their food and water. If you have an outside aviary, strong aviary netting could be considered for it to be completely covered including underneath the area, and/or a protective shield sunk into the ground. This helps to prevent rats and other predators from tunnelling into the aviary. Rats, although primarily attracted to the food, will eventually kill small birds and chicks ; the same for larger predators who will also attack your larger birds. They are also a vectorfor spreading disease and are carriers of parasites.
It is ideal that food be fed outside the coop if possible and, for most birds, removed at night. Some species need food available 24/7 like quail for example.
Free ranging in a safe environment is beneficial for their well being and improves their immune system.

Space
It is best to over rather than underestimate the required space. Chicks will quickly grow and adults will clear a grassy spot into a muddy arena, if kept in an enclosure too small. Free ranging is ideal but not always possible and if this is the case, the floor of your run can be raised (maintaining if possible the drainage) to avoid flooding and mud.