Add door to metal run?

[CarlaCo]

How do you add a 2x4’door to the other side of a run like this one. I’m confused cause everything I see involves wood but this is a galvanized metal frame. How can it be done. I want to have the ability to attach to the coop or be free and move about the yard after the chickens go in for the day.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I would frame out the opening on the large run with wood then attach it to the wire with screws and washers and the metal frame with pipe straps/u-brackets. As for attaching it to the existing run and making it removable, I don't have any ideas yet.

 

[raingarden]

Check the hurricane fencing section in a big-box home improvement store.

 

[McChooky]

Make 2 identical doors that open inward (attach one to the chicken tractor & the other to the run ) Then back the chicken tractor up against the run to load and unload chickens

 

[Ridgerunner]

That existing door opens out, which creates a problem. So cut your opening and frame it in with wood. I'd put wood on both sides of the wire covering the sharp cut edges and screw them together with the screws going through the openings in the wire. Maybe use 1" x 3" boards. I've used ripped 2x4's which gives you a piece 1-1/2" x 1-3/4". Then put a guillotine door on it.

A guillotine door is just a sliding door, it does not swing on hinges. Do an online search if you need to. You can buy them but I build my own.

To tie the two together, I've used bolts on one side that go through holes on the other and use butterfly nuts to secure them.

This opening would have to be big enough so you could swing that other door open and lock it open, remove that door and attach one that swings in instead of out, or remove that door and install a guillotine door on that one.

 

[CarlaCo]

Make 2 identical doors that open inward (attach one to the chicken tractor & the other to the run ) Then back the chicken tractor up against the run to load and unload chickens

Pretty much the plan. The mini coop attached to the tractor coop does open outward and could swing into the bigger metal pen. It will be tricky cause the door is too close the the nesting box lid. There will have to be a gap there. I’m hoping to attach something on 5een that will cover that 7” or so gap.
I’ll have to look into Stinky Acres directions. I just had no idea how you attach wood to mesh. Or where you put hinges etc. I hope someone has pictures.

 

[CarlaCo]

That existing door opens out, which creates a problem. So cut your opening and frame it in with wood. I'd put wood on both sides of the wire covering the sharp cut edges and screw them together with the screws going through the openings in the wire. Maybe use 1" x 3" boards. I've used ripped 2x4's which gives you a piece 1-1/2" x 1-3/4". Then put a guillotine door on it.

A guillotine door is just a sliding door, it does not swing on hinges. Do an online search if you need to. You can buy them but I build my own.

To tie the two together, I've used bolts on one side that go through holes on the other and use butterfly nuts to secure them.

This opening would have to be big enough so you could swing that other door open and lock it open, remove that door and attach one that swings in instead of out, or remove that door and install a guillotine door on that one.

Great suggestions. Thanks.
We thought if we framed a door slightly larger than the existing door and make it swing inward but the opposite direction, we could open the pen door and then just swing the mini run door into the new pen. That way we would have good access to that area for cleaning or putting in food etc.

 

[CarlaCo]

That existing door opens out, which creates a problem. So cut your opening and frame it in with wood. I'd put wood on both sides of the wire covering the sharp cut edges and screw them together with the screws going through the openings in the wire. Maybe use 1" x 3" boards. I've used ripped 2x4's which gives you a piece 1-1/2" x 1-3/4". Then put a guillotine door on it.

A guillotine door is just a sliding door, it does not swing on hinges. Do an online search if you need to. You can buy them but I build my own.

To tie the two together, I've used bolts on one side that go through holes on the other and use butterfly nuts to secure them.

This opening would have to be big enough so you could swing that other door open and lock it open, remove that door and attach one that swings in instead of out, or remove that door and install a guillotine door on that one.

Thanks for so many specifics on the door construction. Does it just hang on the wire then? Nothing ties into the bottom frame? We will be moving it a couple times a month. We’ll stake down the big pen so neither will go anywhere once in place.
I feel kind of thick here but, Is there any reason the existing door can’t swing open into the new pen?

 

[CarlaCo]

Check the hurricane fencing section in a big-box home improvement store.

We want to keep the pen fairly light for moving around the yard. We are hoping to somehow add wheels (another post, lol). We bought an auto door so at night they will be locked up safe. We will add some hardware cloth along the bottom two feet to deter any stray cats etc. we don’t really have predators in the daytime.

 

[McChooky]

Pretty much the plan. The mini coop attached to the tractor coop does open outward and could swing into the bigger metal pen. It will be tricky cause the door is too close the the nesting box lid. There will have to be a gap there. I’m hoping to attach something on 5een that will cover that 7” or so gap.
I’ll have to look into Stinky Acres directions. I just had no idea how you attach wood to mesh. Or where you put hinges etc. I hope someone has pictures.

I'm making a chicken tractor so I can free range my chickens during the day. Still needs a lot of work to be done! (paint, nest box, horizontal sliding door, latches, retractable 10" wheels, 1/2" hardware cloth attached & electric fence wire.