Add door to metal run?

[McChooky]

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?

Sandwich the chain link mesh between the two identical frames like the one below(one inside and one outside) Drill holes to secure the frames to the metal mesh using bolts and wing nuts .The bolts have to be long enough to go thru both frames and secure a nut onthe end(with mesh being in the middle)I can't tell you how to cut the chain link mesh sorry.

 

[CarlaCo]

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.

Besides ours being textbook “pretty,” I envy yours. It will make sense, be thought out and designed for exactly what you want. We found this Amish thing to be a riddle of problems to be solved and the worse part is how heavy it is to move over our uneven lawn..

 

[CarlaCo]

Sandwich the chain link mesh between the two identical frames like the one below(one inside and one outside) Drill holes to secure the frames to the metal mesh using bolts and wing nuts .The bolts have to be long enough to go thru both frames and secure a nut onthe end(with mesh being in the middle)I can't tell you how to cut the chain link mesh sorry.

That makes sense. Thanks. So if I find really thin light pieces to frame esp the door, I can put hinges on the frame. And the whole thing just hangs from the mesh. I wonder if we can kind of help support the weight with wire strung around the left post or some kind of clamp using that post to the frame.

 

[Ridgerunner]

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.

Sandwich the chain link mesh between the two identical frames like the one below(one inside and one outside) Drill holes to secure the frames to the metal mesh using bolts and wing nuts .The bolts have to be long enough to go thru both frames and secure a nut onthe end(with mesh being in the middle)I can't tell you how to cut the chain link mesh sorry.

Thanks for the photo @ChickensComeHome2Roost that's what I was talking about except I use screws to tie the two pieces of wood together instead of nuts and bolts. Either way works. I used it on 2x4 welded wire and it tremendously stiffened it. It was not flapping but was very rigid, but that might depend on what wire you use. You can tie it to the bottom frame if you want to but I did not find that necessary. With yours it could help. Each of these builds is going to be different, you need to adjust it to your situation.

I feel kind of thick here but, Is there any reason the existing door can’t swing open into the new pen?

If the opening is big enough it can.

All you are trying to do is to build a pop door between the two. If you want to use that existing gate for that you can. I'd consider leaving that gate as is as a way to gain access to the existing section, even if you have to crawl, and put the connecting pop door on the opposite side of the existing run. That would require a closeable pop door on each run section so you can lock them in each section but that might turn out to be easier.

 

[McChooky]

Thanks for the photo @ChickensComeHome2Roost that's what I was talking about except I use screws to tie the two pieces of wood together instead of nuts and bolts. Either way works. I used it on 2x4 welded wire and it tremendously stiffened it. It was not flapping but was very rigid, but that might depend on what wire you use. You can tie it to the bottom frame if you want to but I did not find that necessary. With yours it could help. Each of these builds is going to be different, you need to adjust it to your situation.


If the opening is big enough it can.

All you are trying to do is to build a pop door between the two. If you want to use that existing gate for that you can. I'd consider leaving that gate as is as a way to gain access to the existing section, even if you have to crawl, and put the connecting pop door on the opposite side of the existing run. That would require a closeable pop door on each run section so you can lock them in each section but that might turn out to be easier.

Glad to help!

 

[perkolator]

We bought an auto door so at night they will be locked up safe.

I would install auto door on that solid mesh panel of the wood coop, right-side of the access door. Make access hole in hoop run at left-side, with it's own door so you can close it when you're using it separate from the wood coop. This arrangement should still allow you full use of the nest box and the door on the wood coop.

As for how to add door to metal run - simplest way is to have double-frame to sandwich the mesh.

Here's what I was generally suggesting:

 

[CarlaCo]

Thanks for the photo @ChickensComeHome2Roost that's what I was talking about except I use screws to tie the two pieces of wood together instead of nuts and bolts. Either way works. I used it on 2x4 welded wire and it tremendously stiffened it. It was not flapping but was very rigid, but that might depend on what wire you use. You can tie it to the bottom frame if you want to but I did not find that necessary. With yours it could help. Each of these builds is going to be different, you need to adjust it to your situation.


If the opening is big enough it can.

All you are trying to do is to build a pop door between the two. If you want to use that existing gate for that you can. I'd consider leaving that gate as is as a way to gain access to the existing section, even if you have to crawl, and put the connecting pop door on the opposite side of the existing run. That would require a closeable pop door on each run section so you can lock them in each section but that might turn out to be easier.

Thanks Ridgerunner. Exactly the conclusion we came to after drawing it out and looking at where it will all be parked for the winter. We have two designs that work and the easiest would be placing it on the vent side pop door to pop door. Might even make it a 1-2 ft tunnel setup because we may need to access the vent door at times. I'm really excited to get them in the bigger pen but have to wait till my trip to GA is over. My son is putting the wire on, but we will have to add a bit of hardware cloth along the bottom as a feral cat lives in the barn across the street nd has been getting braver snooping around our yard. Today it was mewling walking up our drive and our cat on the porch was like Garfield watching a mouse -completely disinterested. Fat lotta good that one is.

 

[CarlaCo]

I would install auto door on that solid mesh panel of the wood coop, right-side of the access door. Make access hole in hoop run at left-side, with it's own door so you can close it when you're using it separate from the wood coop. This arrangement should still allow you full use of the nest box and the door on the wood coop.

As for how to add door to metal run - simplest way is to have double-frame to sandwich the mesh.

Here's what I was generally suggesting:
View attachment 3257785

That would work. I think we will put it on the other side though because of the configuration of where we are going to winter the whole thing. We have an area that was all stoned for extra parking and I cleared a section and basically made a sandpit for the coop to rest in all winter. The side that shows in your picture will face the driveway which we keep shoveled and the tall door faces a sidewalk to the side door of the garage, which we also keep clear. So the space on the opposite side is just the right size for the pen. I like the idea of placing the door off to the side like that though.
Thanks for the drawing-I'm def a visual girl.

 

[CarlaCo]

Thanks everyone -I'll post an update when we get 'er done, unless we hit a snag and have more newb questions.

I have a trip to GA and will be gone 10 days while my son keeps the chickens happy. I probs won't recognize them when I get back. They are only 5 weeks but it seems like they grow and inch every night!

Thanks to all for so many helpful answers and advice!

 

[CarlaCo]

Update Y’all!
We made the frames out of the 1x3 pvc and hubby used the table saw to plow a 1/4” channel on the sides of two boards for each door. Then the door is just a piece of pvc panel that slides in the channel. I made the tunnel out of two scrap 2x4 boards and stapled chicken wire to the bottom. The tunnel is temporary but works great for now. Planning on building a proper box which will be a little wider as we want about 2’ access to that side of the coop. Anyway whole thing works. Brilliant!