Chicken Run

[JurassicBawk]

I have 4 chickens and the cheapest/easiest way I found to make a run was a 10x10 dog kennel. Each chainlink panel is 6' tall and 10' long, so they've got 100 sq ft to play in. Their raised 4x4 house is inside it, so they can go under/in/on top of the house. I can't free range because of predators, but they seem happy enough with the space. I covered the bottom half of the chainlink with hardware cloth then ran it onto the ground to keep dogs/predators out, and covered the top half (and actual roof of pen before I put it under my deck) with bird netting. My local co-op has the kennels for $200, so the entire run cost me about $250 with the cloth. I've got a full walk-in door, I can move it easily if need be, and it was very easy to set up.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I’m not too far from you in Spotsylvania County. That is right you can never have too much room. I would suggest wood framing so you can also put something on top of the run We are up to 20 chickens this year so sometimes I wish we had a limit on how many we could get . Haha. Sometimes I lack self-control

 

[Birdsong 82]

I have 4 chickens and the cheapest/easiest way I found to make a run was a 10x10 dog kennel. Each chainlink panel is 6' tall and 10' long, so they've got 100 sq ft to play in. Their raised 4x4 house is inside it, so they can go under/in/on top of the house. I can't free range because of predators, but they seem happy enough with the space. I covered the bottom half of the chainlink with hardware cloth then ran it onto the ground to keep dogs/predators out, and covered the top half (and actual roof of pen before I put it under my deck) with bird netting. My local co-op has the kennels for $200, so the entire run cost me about $250 with the cloth. I've got a full walk-in door, I can move it easily if need be, and it was very easy to set up.

that also sounds very sturdy and like something you could attach something on top off. I think for chickens would be pretty happy in that

 

[lalydiafaith]

I have 4 chickens and the cheapest/easiest way I found to make a run was a 10x10 dog kennel. Each chainlink panel is 6' tall and 10' long, so they've got 100 sq ft to play in. Their raised 4x4 house is inside it, so they can go under/in/on top of the house. I can't free range because of predators, but they seem happy enough with the space. I covered the bottom half of the chainlink with hardware cloth then ran it onto the ground to keep dogs/predators out, and covered the top half (and actual roof of pen before I put it under my deck) with bird netting. My local co-op has the kennels for $200, so the entire run cost me about $250 with the cloth. I've got a full walk-in door, I can move it easily if need be, and it was very easy to set up.

That's a great idea! Having room to clean up and move around in there is important to, and keeping predators away is important also, so i'll most definitely look into the dog kennel. Thanks for the info!

 

[lalydiafaith]

I’m not too far from you in Spotsylvania County. That is right you can never have too much room. I would suggest wood framing so you can also put something on top of the run We are up to 20 chickens this year so sometimes I wish we had a limit on how many we could get . Haha. Sometimes I lack self-control

I love that idea! I'm only allowed to have 4 chickens where i live.... boo! But if i move somewhere where i'm allowed to have more i'll most definitely keep that in mind. I totally understand. once you get one you can't stop lol. Thanks for the information!