Adding a run to a prefab coop

[City-Chickee]

We purchased and are waiting on the delivery of a coop kit from Horizon Structures for a 5 x 6 coop (picture below), in the mean time I am trying to come up with ideas for a run to attach to it that has a strong roof (we're in Iowa, so snow weight is a definate concern).

Does anyone have a similar coop that they have attached a run to? I would love to see some picts

Thank you!

 

[caroleame]

I bought a prefab too and can't find any adequate runs. Our town requires runs, we can't free range. I'd like one we could walk into but the only one we found has been sold out for weeks. Am looking for ideas too. thanks

 

[TalkALittle]

I bought a prefab too and can't find any adequate runs.  Our town requires runs, we can't free range.  I'd like one we could walk into but the only one we found has been sold out for weeks.  Am looking for ideas too. thanks

Chickens don't need the head room so if you can't build or buy a tall run, an alternative might be one with a hinged top and sides low enough for you to reach over and step into.

 

[City-Chickee]

If I really have to, I'm going to attach a dog run and put tarp over the top - that should be sufficient. But I would really like to build a wooden structure with hardware cloth.
I'm with you, I would like to have something that I can walk into to clean and adjust things easily.

 

[TalkALittle]

If I really have to, I'm going to attach a dog run and put tarp over the top - that should be sufficient.

Depending on the dimension of your dog run, you might be able to arch some cattle panels over the top to provide some support for your tarp.

 

[bdjh]

I've seen that coop - they sell them here in Winnipeg at a chain of farm stores called Peavey Mart. For a pre-fab, it's REALLY nice.

If I recall, there is the small 'chicken door' on the far end......I would attach my run onto the end of the coop, and build it out from there.

I don't know if you can see in my avatar, but I built our run out of 2x2's, in 4x8 sections, and just screwed them right onto the coop. the sections are all covered in hardware cloth, which I also wrapped around the bottom of the coop itself, where it's raised off the ground, keeping the underside of the coop, and the whole run contained. I put a small door in the run, to let us in and out to be able to open the 'chicken door'. It's only 4-feet high in there, but not the end of the world. All in all, cheap to build, and seems to be working like a charm. I don't have a roof on mine, though....the girls won't go out when it's cold anyway.

What I WOULD recommend with that particular coop, though, is to place it up higher on some posts, or blocks, or something. Our girls love to hang out under the coop.....I've got about 2-feet of space under mine, but that one only has about a foot, if I recall. Just a thought.

I'd also line the floor with a piece of linoleum.......keeps things much cleaner.

 

[City-Chickee]

Thank you guys, I really appreciate the advice!

If the run is not a walk-in kind, how do you clean it? Just built panels on the top that open up? or?

 

[bdjh]

You'll need some way to get into it.....for cleaning, spreading straw, bringing in treats, etc.......

Equally, if something gets in that shouldn't get in.....it'll need a way OUT.

I suppose you could get away with a removable panel on top.....as long as it's easy to move......and you've got a some way of getting in and out.

Building a door is pretty simple, though.

 

[georgiagail]

I know I've posting this before (and I apologize to those who have seen this) but this is what we did with our coop (an arched roof of hardware cloth). I do live in Georgia so snow is not an issue here...Gail

 

[City-Chickee]

I really like that design Gail...but I know it would be destroyed here

Our snow was so bad, it crashed in the roof of our metal and cloth gazebo.