A-Frame Chicken Run

[eamesa]

I am about to attempt an A-Frame chicken run, as I feel like this'll save me money in both lumber and hardware cloth, as I won't have to roof it. I was wondering if anyone had done something similar?

 

[Kris5902]

Started to and scrapped the idea early on, I couldn’t figure out how to make it accessible and functional enough for me, we get a lot of rain in my area, and the angles were just not working for me. I will be interested to see what you do though! Maybe I can learn how to make it work too?

 

[PirateGirl]

Yes. I made an A-Frame duck run. The ends are 8ftx8'x8' triangles and I can comfortably stand up in the middle at a height of 5'10". I grabbed this photo off the internet to help illustrate something I learned. It is important for the support of the whole structure to have these short extra support arms that come off the main/top beam at a 45 degree angle like this photo. It makes the whole thing much much stronger.

 

[PirateGirl]

Here are some photos of mine. You can see how I framed the door on the side. I used mostly scrap and salvaged wood we already had. The door is just a piece of plywood. If I were buying materials I would have made the door a bit taller. Having a solid door instead of a wire one also makes for a good wind block and makes some nice shade at certain times of day.

 

[paneubert]

If you want a "no-brainer" construction (and really secure/strong connections), grab a swing set kit off Amazon. The ones that just come with the metal plates and bolts/screws. You provide the lumber and choose how "wide" and "long" you want it based on the lumber. I made a swing set via this method and simply used a 16 foot top beam versus a 12 foot so that I could have more swings, etc...

 

[Ted Brown]

This will eliminate any cost for wood but will need some money for PVC.

 

[aart]

I am about to attempt an A-Frame chicken run, as I feel like this'll save me money in both lumber and hardware cloth, as I won't have to roof it. I was wondering if anyone had done something similar?

It might, as long as you never need protection from rain or sun.
A-frames are a rotten design if you want weatherization and ventilation...IMO.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens look through the coops on the sight I have a tractor that can be moved so it does not affect the lawn as much

 

[PirateGirl]

It might, as long as you never need protection from rain or sun.
A-frames are a rotten design if you want weatherization and ventilation...IMO.

To the OP I'm not sure what your intention is in terms of a coop. I love my A-Frame as a run only, but would not recommend making an A-Frame chicken coop. My small duck house is an A-Frame, but the ducks sleep on the ground and lay their eggs on the ground and I don't need to put food, water, nest boxes, or have roosting space in the duck house. It's really just a spot for them to get out of the weather when they feel like it, but would not be adequate for chickens.

 

[eamesa]

It might, as long as you never need protection from rain or sun.
A-frames are a rotten design if you want weatherization and ventilation...IMO.

They will have a coop attached eventually they are in a small coop now that will be placed in the run in the meantime