Can someone point me to some run-building tutorials?

[guesswhatchickenbutt]

I'm so sick of not having an attached run for my chickens. I had finally decided on buying a chain-link dog run and modifying it for the chickens. I've been scouring CL and FreeCycle, but haven't come up with a darned thing in our area yet

I don't have a lot of carpentry skills, so making one from lumber and screws feels a bit daunting to me. I wondered if there are any tutorials out there showing how to put together a basic big box-type structure for a run. Maybe then I could a) see if I can do it and b) see if the lumber, wire and screws would be more cost-effective than buying a dog run.

People keep telling me to be patient and wait for a dog run on CL or FC, but I'm sooooooooo sick of waiting. Every single day I have to cart the chickens out to the hoop-run and then cart them back to their coop. The hoop-run can't be attached to the coop, so that' not an option.

Are there any tutorials out there??? I'd be forever indebted to you if you could point me in the right direction!!

ETA - I'm super short on cash right now, so I'm looking for the cheapest way to do it!! (people have told me to hit up construction sites and such for left-over lumber, but I'm a SAHM with 2 young boys and scouring construction sites isn't really my thing - LOL)

 

[pipermark]

Did you try going through the sites coop area? sometimes they discuss the runs as well

https://www.backyardchickens.com/chicken-coop-medium.html
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=14837-ParadiseCoop

 

[guesswhatchickenbutt]

Thanks pipermark! I didn't realize so many of those showed some how-to pics.

I'll be honest - I'm quite intimidated to head to Lowe's without a clue and start picking out lumber and screws... I'm going to search online for a tutorial on how to make a big wooden frame and then look at the great pics on that page you linked me to and I suppose I'll just go for it!

 

[CityChook]

It's not that hard. We just used lumber, screws/washers and hardware wire. Sink your corner posts in the ground, add powdered concrete and water. Make a base using landscaping timbers. LEVEL IT and screw it to the corner posts. Depending on how tall it is will determine if you need support structures (2x4's). Make another square for the top. Wire it all in. Ours is pretty "built up" because we get a fair amount of snow.

Here's a shot of my new veggie garden fence, showing the same technique. We did this in a weekend with VERY limited carpentry skills.

Hope this helps.

 

[CityChook]

Do you know any guys out there that would be willing to help you for a nice home-cooked meal?

 

[elmo]

I built an indoor aviary for our doves more than a year ago, and the number one thing I wish I had known then was how much easier an electric drill/screwdriver makes the whole process.

I won't use any other power tools (I want to stay attached to my fingers, thank you very much), but the electric drill is safe for a klutz like me and really makes the project go faster.

Honestly, if I can build a run, anyone can build a run.