I need some ideas for a coop run fence. We just put up a 10x10 wood shed and I now need to show my hubby some images of some good fencing ideas. I want to be able to walk in the run. Roof over run? They will free range five acres but just in case I can't let them out one day I want a good run for them so any ideas please post pictures!
Hi momofthehouse,
Tell you what we do which is very successful. Because we use this system it makes it very easy for me to help if needed because everything is done in manageable sections. Fun working together! We build our runs so we can stand up and walk inside Check with your township if they have a height requirement for fences. Don't mention the poultry run. Say "fenced garden" instead. Ours is 6 ft. Ok,
1. Build your run out of 2x4 panels 6ft. high and 6' long. put a horizontal bar in at the 3 ft., mark.
2. Cut wood 2x4 angles to reinforce each of the 4 corners and screw them in. Use 2 1/2 inch washer headed or bugle headed decking screws. These will strengthen the panels and keep the from flexing.
3. Affix chicken wire to the panels in 2 strips. This allows you to pull the chicken wire tighter. You want to buy both 3ft. high and 5 ft. high chicken wire rolls. Use the 3 ft. high on the upper 1/2 of the panels. Use the 5ft. high wire on the lower 1/2 of the panels so you have a 2 ft. overhang to bury in the dirt when you set them up. This wire buried underground will keep tunneling varmints from digging into your run.
4. Staple the chicken wire to the panels with fence staples or a heavy duty electric staple gun. ( we use 5/8" or 3/4" crown staples in our air stapler. Never use less than 5/8".). Make the number of panels you need to fence your run. Make a door in one of the panels which is wide enough for a wheel barrow (for cleaning purposes).
5. Now to assemble the run. Stand the panels up where you want them fasten the vertical panels together with 2 1/2 inch coated washer headed deck screws from both sides, not sparing the number you use. There will be a bit of uneven fit at the corners, don't sweat it . No need to use 4"x4" at the corners to eliminate it. Just screw them together.
6. We have a roofed run. If you are where it snows, you will need to build some kind of slant into the roof so the snow can slide off. In way to do this is to make one side of the run . Standard for snow to slide off is a 4" to 12 inch slope. Or you can build a 20" peak in the center and have a 2 angled roof. I cover the roof with chicken wire.
7. Now the nice things about this system are 3 fold.
1. In our township nothing goes into the ground. Everything sits on top of it so we don't need a building permit.
2. Since it is screwed together it is a "temporary structure" in our township. Another reason not to need a permit. Check with your local regs.
Do not mention it is chicken run. Use "garden shed and fenced garden" instead. ( we also placed our coop on a raised 2x4 base that sat
on the ground, again no permit needed where we live.
3. It is a modular system. If you need to expand for more birds, like we did this year, just cut the wire out of the panel where you want to expand, put in 3 more sides and a roof and , Poof! An extra 5x5= 25 sq. ft. more run!! Easy Peasey!
Best Success,
Karen
