Adding a run to a coop w/ 6 ft door?

[ErikaRI]

Hi;
Last summer I got a new coop for my chickens. It's got a hardware cloth bottom, which is great for security, but it means that my girls aren't getting as much digging in the dirt time as they'd like.

I want to get a run for them, so that they'll have more "outside" time during the day. (It's against town regulations to let them free-range all the time, and besides, we have enough foxes/coyotes/hawks around that I really don't feel comfortable leaving them to run all the time during the day.

What do people like to do? I've seen a number of "run" options which seem good, but if I put something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HQ7L7IY/?tag=backy-20 against the coop so that they can come and go, I need it to be tall enough for a 6 ft door to open into it. Or is a fenced enclosure (with no "ceiling") really a good idea, or am I running to big a risk of hawks or other predators? (And would I need to clip their wings?)

 

[TXchickmum]

Hi;
Last summer I got a new coop for my chickens. It's got a hardware cloth bottom, which is great for security, but it means that my girls aren't getting as much digging in the dirt time as they'd like.

I want to get a run for them, so that they'll have more "outside" time during the day. (It's against town regulations to let them free-range all the time, and besides, we have enough foxes/coyotes/hawks around that I really don't feel comfortable leaving them to run all the time during the day.

What do people like to do? I've seen a number of "run" options which seem good, but if I put something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HQ7L7IY/?tag=backy-20 against the coop so that they can come and go, I need it to be tall enough for a 6 ft door to open into it. Or is a fenced enclosure (with no "ceiling") really a good idea, or am I running to big a risk of hawks or other predators? (And would I need to clip their wings?)

We built our own run off of our chicken coop. It is 6 ft. tall. (like to have the run tall enough that I can go in and out an clean in there, rake the dirt and turn it over, and place a feeder and waterer there.) Ours is covered. We have hardware cloth which skirts the bottom of the coop, covers the windows, and forms a wall on the front when the doors are opened. The run is made of chicken wire. Hawks are our primary concern. (The chickens are in the coop at dusk, and out after daybreak.) You could make the run out of hardware cloth completely, if daytime predators are a risk for you.

 

[Ted Brown]

It sounds like a "hoop" style run could address the height issue, provide some runs space and also not cost too much.

Do a search, I seem to remember @aart has build several of these so combine the name with "hoop run".

Guessing she may also chime in with links as she is on all the time.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Hi;
Last summer I got a new coop for my chickens. It's got a hardware cloth bottom, which is great for security, but it means that my girls aren't getting as much digging in the dirt time as they'd like.

I want to get a run for them, so that they'll have more "outside" time during the day. (It's against town regulations to let them free-range all the time, and besides, we have enough foxes/coyotes/hawks around that I really don't feel comfortable leaving them to run all the time during the day.

What do people like to do? I've seen a number of "run" options which seem good, but if I put something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HQ7L7IY/?tag=backy-20 against the coop so that they can come and go, I need it to be tall enough for a 6 ft door to open into it. Or is a fenced enclosure (with no "ceiling") really a good idea, or am I running to big a risk of hawks or other predators? (And would I need to clip their wings?)

Yes, I would put it against the coop so that they can come and go. I would also put a roof on it because you don’t want predators coming in and attacking them in such close tight quarters, they wouldn’t be able to get away. When it rains it will also keep your run from getting muddy and when it’s hot it will provide shade.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Yes, I would put it against the coop so that they can come and go. I would also put a roof on it because you don’t want predators coming in and attacking them in such close tight quarters, they wouldn’t be able to get away. When it rains it will also keep your run from getting muddy and when it’s hot it will provide shade.

I would build it 6 foot high and try to stay within the measurements that the 2x4’s and hardware cloth come in so less cutting and work. The hardware cloth also comes in 2 foot and 4 foot widths, so that would easily go with a 6 foot high run.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

We built our own run off of our chicken coop. It is 6 ft. tall. (like to have the run tall enough that I can go in and out an clean in there, rake the dirt and turn it over, and place a feeder and waterer there.) Ours is covered. We have hardware cloth which skirts the bottom of the coop, covers the windows, and forms a wall on the front when the doors are opened. The run is made of chicken wire. Hawks are our primary concern. (The chickens are in the coop at dusk, and out after daybreak.) You could make the run out of hardware cloth completely, if daytime predators are a risk for you. View attachment 1754069 View attachment 1754070 View attachment 1754070 View attachment 1754071

What a beautiful set up!

 

[mowin]

I agree with the hoop run. Mine is about 6' high, but it would be easy to raise it to whatever hight you need by making the frame higher.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Hi;
Last summer I got a new coop for my chickens. It's got a hardware cloth bottom, which is great for security, but it means that my girls aren't getting as much digging in the dirt time as they'd like.

I want to get a run for them, so that they'll have more "outside" time during the day. (It's against town regulations to let them free-range all the time, and besides, we have enough foxes/coyotes/hawks around that I really don't feel comfortable leaving them to run all the time during the day.

What do people like to do? I've seen a number of "run" options which seem good, but if I put something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HQ7L7IY/?tag=backy-20 against the coop so that they can come and go, I need it to be tall enough for a 6 ft door to open into it. Or is a fenced enclosure (with no "ceiling") really a good idea, or am I running to big a risk of hawks or other predators? (And would I need to clip their wings?)

Sounds like it is really small. I think it is only 2’ x 3’.

 

[PirateGirl]

You just need a little chicken sized door to open into your run. No need for a 6ft door between the coop and run.

 

[paneubert]

You just need a little chicken sized door to open into your run. No need for a 6ft door between the coop and run.

But then how do you access the run to clean it, or catch a sick chicken who decided to sleep in the far corner?