- Chicken tunnels, a.k.a. "chunnels," are the best way to protect your flock while also letting them roam around your backyard.
- Some chicken owners are making DIY chicken tunnels with welded wire, sod staples, and zip ties.
- Mesh versions are also available for $50 on Amazon.
While coops will keep 'em safe, your birds need a place to roam freely, too, and sometimes a chicken run—or an open backyard—just won't cut it. Enter the chicken "chunnel."
Chicken tunnels, a.k.a. "chunnels," are the best way to protect your flock while also letting them roam around your backyard. These tunnels, which can be a straight run or wrap around the perimeter of your property, aren't just good for the birds—they're good for your garden, too.
By placing these around your garden beds or crops, these chicken tunnels will encourage your flock to eat weeds and bugs that may wreak havoc on your plants, veggies, and flowers, according to Good Life Permaculture. Set a chicken tunnel up to follow your yard's fence line or your garden's perimeter, and your chickens can double as all-natural weed and bug killers.
Blogger "Zucchinimom" of Suburban Homesteading made her own unique version of a chicken tunnel to give her fowl more space and protection. "Living in the suburbs I have to protect them from lots of critters," she wrote. "We have foxes and birds of prey everywhere. This is as close to free range as we can get for them and they don't need supervision."
Chicken keeper Leslie Wray Doyle made one from scratch for her birds with welded wire, sod staples, and zip ties. "Your chickens will love their chunnel, and protection from hawks gives you the peace of mind to let them range," she said. The whole project took her six hours to complete and cost just $80.
And if you don't feel like tackling a DIY project, you can buy a similar structure, which will keep your flock just as happy!
SHOP NOW Chicken enclosure ($50, amazon.com)
Get a step-by-step guide for making your own chicken tunnel at AskAPrepper.com.
