Chain link fence run

[tiffanyh]

i second what Wild says, I put my girls in every evening and I did loose one to a weasel. Went right through the chainlink openings with no problem at all, so keep that in mind.

 

[Hiedi]

This is our chain link run, which is actually an old dog pen. At night, they stay in something different. We are in the process of building an elevated coop to go inside this, then we will probably build a different run. One good thing about this run, it can be moved fairly easily. We try to move it about every 2-3 days.

 

[Hiedi]

Here is the updated version of our chain link run. We built a coop that fits inside so we do not have to move them at night anymore; moving them twice a day was getting old. Eventually, we are going to build another run, but right now this is working fine.

They like to hang out underneath the coop where it is shady and cool.

 

[Omran]

I really liked all pictures posted by other members on this topic,my question is: it is not cheaper just to build one your self like what I did ? chain link is very expensive! I build one using 4x4 treated lumber and 14 gage welded wire fence (40'x10') run and it coast me complet about $700 but I got the best materials for it

 

[MarylandChick]

I used an old 5ft by 10ft chain link dog run and I have it right up against my coop. I sat it on 1sq ft cement stepping stones and lined another row of stones around the inside, especially under perches. Not only does it make it extreamly hard to dig in or out of but it also makes poop clean up easier.

I used chicken wire accross the top and sometimes I pull a tarp over the top (like where there's a heat wave.) I used pvc piping to keep the cieling curved up rather than caved in. I use straight long wide tree limbs shoved through the chain link as perches along the sides.

If I have the whole thing to do over again I would have dug trenches and added a path for water to travel thru in underground. The chickens like having the loose dirt in the middle to fluff and dig in but in the dampness of spring it's a mucky mess.

I like not having a perminant cover over the chicken run because the weather cleans up the chicken waste for me.

My biggest challenge right now are squirrels that fit through the chain link and are eating 1/2 my chicken feed every day.

Here are some pics from when it was still under construction:

 

[Anny]

I put hardware close over some of the
larger spaced" area in my chain link and I put bird netting over the rest cus I'm cheap and it's been keeping out the squirrels...for now at least I'm just waiting for them to out smart me again.

 

[orchidchick]

Hi,
I used the chain link panels (6' x 12') because it was easy for me to handle by myself and I was in that transition between first chicks and where the heck were they going to end up living permanently later. So they ended up in their hutch in the run first and later their coop was attached. Hardware cloth attached with hog rings 3 feet up. 3 feet of welded garden wire laid down as a skirt and secured with landscape stakes, with about 6 inches inside the coop because these girls are diggers too! I had hardware cloth attached to the roof covered with a tarp at first, and after coming home from work after a good spring rain with the entire thing caved in from the weight of the water in the tarp, rethought that. Now have chain link panels covered with chicken wire with one large pvc pipe in the middle and two smaller pipes on either side (think a-frame) with the tarp over that! I live in Florida and can get sometimes an inch or two in an afternoon. I also had to cover the rest with chicken wire as the squirrels were getting in and quite bossy with the girls and pissing me off!

 

[CATRAY44]

Very sharp!!!

 

[Hiedi]

posted by Omran
I really liked all pictures posted by other members on this topic,my question is: it is not cheaper just to build one your self like what I did ?

We just used an old dog kennel (10 ft X 10 ft) that was sitting in our back yard.​

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Back in 1985, I bought a bunch of used dog kennels for a very cheap price. I borrowed a trailer and hauled home 10 10'x5' panels and 6 gates to go with them. I've had them at 3 different properties and at one time or another they've been used for dogs, puppies, rabbits, meat birds and as a run for layers. Extra gates have even been used as a gate with perimeter fencing or for a sheep pen. They make a fine trellis, too. They are really handy to have around!

I've certainly gotten my moneys worth out of mine! Although, I was disappointed when the latch on one broke earlier this year.