Chicken run not going well around the door.

[lilchickenz]

I set a post crooked and don't want to re-do it because I'd have to re-do a lot of work. I'm also trying to work with wood that's warped and twisted. Basically been trying to build the thing out of what I have around here without buying new stuff. I also have minimal tools to work with. Can't say I always measure things exactly either. I'm kinda lazy or something, I dunno what's wrong with me. So now the door has a giant gap (like 5+ inches) at the top and a couple inches at the bottom. I guess I'm going to try to build up around it, but it's a bit discouraging. Did anyone else build a house and run with minimal tools and old scrap wood/fencing?

 

[RochfoKev]

I built my coop from left over fencing and scrap doors and anything i could find, i just made it up as i went.
Every coop is different, i don't think the chickens care if its a painted show home or old and beaten up coop, don't get discouraged, before you know it you will have a finished coop and chickens living in it
Its the 3rd night for my chickens in the new coop, 1st night they stayed outside, 2nd night i tricked them in with food and tonight its getting dusk now and I'm watching to see if they go in soon.

 

[lilchickenz]

Do you have a photo of your coop? I'm mainly worried that raccoons are going to get in and eat my chickens.

 

[cknkids]

Just keep making it up as you go along. I want to keep rats out so had DH kept gaps to a minimum. It you have a 2" gap at the bottom and 5" gap at the top of your door could you move the door down to minimize that gap. Then you could add a piece of wood just above the top of the door, yes there would be a space above that, add hardware cloth and call it ventilation. If you're worried about it becoming draft in the winter either cover with plastic during cold months or find another piece of wood to cover it. As said before chickens don't care what it looks like.

 

[SobbaChickens]

I'm using one of my brothers dog kennels as our temporary run and his dog tore the heck out of the chain link so we had to spend time patching. It also has deer netting wrapped all around it for hawk attacks and it has also caught a snake. There is a good size gap between the door and post. I have a rail road tie up against the sides, I sat a piece of plywood against the door and shove my step stool in between the RR tie and plywood. It's pretty ugly but it works. The gap is big enough that my chicks can walk right though. It's not predator proof, but the only predator concerns I have here are at night and the coop itself is 110% predator proof.

On the very left of this pic is my door so you can kinda see what I'm talking about. Not sure if this is helpful at all though

 

[SobbaChickens]

I set a post crooked and don't want to re-do it because I'd have to re-do a lot of work. I'm also trying to work with wood that's warped and twisted. Basically been trying to build the thing out of what I have around here without buying new stuff. I also have minimal tools to work with. Can't say I always measure things exactly either. I'm kinda lazy or something, I dunno what's wrong with me. So now the door has a giant gap (like 5+ inches) at the top and a couple inches at the bottom. I guess I'm going to try to build up around it, but it's a bit discouraging. Did anyone else build a house and run with minimal tools and old scrap wood/fencing?

And I wouldnt say you are lazy lol if you were lazy you wouldn't be attempting to build a chicken run!

 

[lilchickenz]

Maybe lazy wasn't the best word. I have some challenges I guess. I've been working on this for I think 4 years, well there were a couple of years I gave up and a little platform sat out there getting moldy and rotted. Now I'm really close to having something chickens can actually live in.

 

[lilchickenz]

Photo of the progress



Once I got the door hung on there it wasn't as crooked. It's still crooked but I think I can use a bit more wood to secure it.

 

[milola]

Just cover any gaps with scrap wood or wire.

 

[RochfoKev]

Thats looking like a nice coop