100% Urban Predator proof Chicken Run

[Daox13]

Although there is some kinetic heat created by the movement of water slightly lowing it's freezing point the difference in freezing points is minimal at best... Moving water still freezes it just takes longer because the heat drop is 'mixed' and more uniform, unlike stationary water that freezes from the outside in as it continues to drop in temp... In moving water once the entire container of water hits 32°F it's going to start to freeze regardless of motion, likely a more slush like freeze then sheets as it's being moved, as is evidenced in the rivers and streams around me that still freeze to some degree during the winter.... A big factor with rivers not freezing is the churning effect combined with the geothermal heat from bellow as well as just the massive volume of water, it's not just a factor of the water moving...

Good answer!

 

[Daox13]

I"MMMM BACKKK!!!!

Sorry for the long time it took to get working on the coop and run again. I got side tracked with Halloween which is my favorite holiday!
Here are a few things I threw together for the kids in the neighborhood!










NOW onto the run. I have made significant progress in the run. I have finally figured out what the heck I'm doing and framed out general layout and started running wire. Its really hard to see the wire in these pics but it give you and idea of what I'm doing. I used hurricane ties to help with the build and the strength.

 

[Daox13]

Just to let you guys know I have been making leaps and bounds but I have decided it would be better to wait for it to be completed before sharing pictures. As of now I have the run fully enclosed with 1/2" HW cloth, I have a door, roof rafters and I'm to the point where I will lay the roof and put up the trim boards for looks and to sand which the HW cloth for protection.
This process may have taken a while longer than most as I'm more of a weekend warrior due to work and the current lighting. BUT I'm determine this will be done before Christmas including the coop itself!

 

[aart]

Just to let you guys know I have been making leaps and bounds but I have decided it would be better to wait for it to be completed before sharing pictures. As of now I have the run fully enclosed with 1/2" HW cloth, I have a door, roof rafters and I'm to the point where I will lay the roof and put up the trim boards for looks and to sand which the HW cloth for protection.
This process may have taken a while longer than most as I'm more of a weekend warrior due to work and the current lighting. BUT I'm determine this will be done before Christmas including the coop itself!

Hopefully you are still taking pics along the way......I love seeing the progress pics even if not in 'real time'.
Best of cLuck!

 

[Daox13]

oh yes of course! I have about 20 of them as of now and expecting many more!

 

[Folly's place]

Every project we've ever done, takes 3x longer, and 2x more $$$. Mary

 

[mobius]

MY start at a Forest Floor in the run: Pea gravel to level, then topsoil over, then pine duff and small pine cones raked from the yard, added a couple rotten stumps laying around to inoculate, even shredded paper. Later when I cleaned out the coop for the winter, all the pine shavings and bedding went here. It is dry, the chickens scratch in it, and there is no smell. Oh and there is hardware cloth under all of it. For predator proofing. Like you are doing. Finally, I think it is nice and soft for their feet when they jump down from the perches, which they love to hang out on during the day. That helps prevent bumblefoot, or so I have read.

 

[Daox13]

MY start at a Forest Floor in the run: Pea gravel to level, then topsoil over, then pine duff and small pine cones raked from the yard, added a couple rotten stumps laying around to inoculate, even shredded paper. Later when I cleaned out the coop for the winter, all the pine shavings and bedding went here. It is dry, the chickens scratch in it, and there is no smell. Oh and there is hardware cloth under all of it. For predator proofing. Like you are doing. Finally, I think it is nice and soft for their feet when they jump down from the perches, which they love to hang out on during the day. That helps prevent bumblefoot, or so I have read.

Love it! I am going to do something similar with my run bedding. I am literally going to make it the compost bin and have them do most of the work for me. I have read this works very well and reduces odor greatly. I love your set up!

 

[mobius]

Hmm, well ,

since you liked that forest floor idea, and you are super into predator proofing, you might like my other thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1099772/simplest-electric-fence-ever-cheep/10

Thanks, I'll be here all week!

 

[Daox13]

Hmm, well ,

since you liked that forest floor idea, and you are super into predator proofing, you might like my other thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1099772/simplest-electric-fence-ever-cheep/10

Thanks, I'll be here all week!

I have thought about an electric fence, however I'm gonna be dead honest, I have the absolute worse luck with electric fences. Growing up on a horse farm where we had draft breeds, we always had a hot wire running the upper portion of the fence. It never failed that I would hit that freakin wire every single time. Fast forward I'm now an adult and had an electric wire running around an area where my dogs would jump the fence and it never failed that I would tag that thing with my shoulder all the time. I could only imagine the psychological damage a chicken coop and run would cause me.