I need to know how to build a giant run under 100 dollars. I need it big enough to fit 2 small coops. You know.. The chicken coop with the over head thing from Hawks and stuff. What material is best? Cheap and secure from snakes and other predators. Please help!
There is not really a cheap way to build a large run. I just built a 25 foot round one and used repurposed fence posts, so I didn't have that expence, and the cost was about 200 to 250. That is steel garden fence around the bottom, 4 foot chicken wire over that then 2 foot chicken wire above that with hawk netting over the entire thing. Here is a picture of it.
There's no such thing as cheap AND secure IMO. You either get one or the other, because hardware cloth (secure) is expensive and chicken wire (cheap) isn't secure.
My run was cheap, and it is very secure. My secret was sourcing my build materials. My lumber came from a deck rebuild. All free lumber, 2x6x12. Most boards had 6 to 8 foot runs devoid of any rot. I just had to remove the nails. I still have a ton left behind a shed. My apron fencing came free also. I was going to bury it, I had no issues with what it looked like. Free on craigslist. Most everything was resourced good material.
My intention was to give the original poster the idea to look for free building materials... Obviously my post was not clear or well constructed, sorry...
Use a neighbor's old swingset as the starting point and luck out on a purchase of an enormous amount of hardware cloth for $35 at a Habitat for Humanity Rebuild shop. Even with that, I'd say the run cost more like $200 after purchasing screws, washers, more lumber, and roofing panels.
