Coop Run Ideas

[Mountainmamaof4]

My husband and I have been working hard on getting our new coop ready before winter gets here...it is coming along and it is going to be GORGEOUS (we may have gone a little over board). What’s not coming along is the run Unfortunately we have have keep our girls in a run because of our location (9,100 ft up in the mountains). I am in desperate need of some ideas/suggestions on how big it should be (20 hens 1 Roo), how to build around our beautiful aspen trees, etc. I would love to have the trees in the run for shade and I don’t think I can bring myself to cut them down but the run needs to be covered. I have attached pictures of the coop in progress and the run space I’m working with. Also the existing fence is coming down. Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

 

[black_cat]

Do you want the entire run to be roofed or just covered to protect from escapees and predators? You need about 200+ square feet for that many chooks, but I'd recommend more because you might end up adding more in the future! You may want to roof part of the run, and for the rest, use netting. You can probably fasten the netting to the trees as high as you want, as long as you make sure that it provides a complete cover. Many people use heavy duty bird netting that works well.

 

[tsperry88]

This is mine I just finished. I have 3 strands of electric fence on the outside and some roosting bars between the center supports. It's 27x29, a good size for your number of birds I think.

 

[Alaskan]

It isn't too hard to get netting to be between trees .. but... it is a problem if you have much wet snow.

If you mostly get very dry snow, a nylon netting should be OK. With wet snow it will stick to almost anything and then the weight will pull down the net.

It would be nice to have a portion of the run roofed, and maybe walled to keep out blowing snow. You can always have the roofed run area more secure, and have it open onto a less secure, roofed with a net, summer only run.

Or, put up sturdy supports and use wire fence on the roof, you can cut out holes for the tree trunks to grow through.

 

[rosemarythyme]

This might be a lot of work, but if you can kind of plan out an area between trees, that'll take the trees themselves out of the equation, even if it leaves you with a slightly odd shaped run. The trees would then provide shade from the perimeter instead.

For your flock size I would go no smaller than a bit over 200 sq ft. Bigger would definitely be better as the above gives you zero room for expansion. If you have the budget and space I'd rather aim for 400 sq ft or more.

 

[Mountainmamaof4]

This is mine I just finished. I have 3 strands of electric fence on the outside and some roosting bars between the center supports. It's 27x29, a good size for your number of birds I think.

Thank you! Did you just use deer netting over the top?

 

[tsperry88]

Thank you! Did you just use deer netting over the top?

My run is actually 21x28. I debated too many sizes and forgot which size I built it I used this net:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B012L9ZIFE?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

[aart]

Unfortunately we have have keep our girls in a run because of our location (9,100 ft up in the mountains).

How much snow do you get?

Welcome to BYC! @Mountainmamaof4
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Mountainmamaof4]

How much snow do you get?

Welcome to BYC! @Mountainmamaof4
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2315931

Thank you. I will update my profile. I am located in Colorado and we do get quite a bit of wet snow during the winter.

 

[M Brennen]

My husband and I have been working hard on getting our new coop ready before winter gets here...it is coming along and it is going to be GORGEOUS (we may have gone a little over board). What’s not coming along is the run☹ Unfortunately we have have keep our girls in a run because of our location (9,100 ft up in the mountains). I am in desperate need of some ideas/suggestions on how big it should be (20 hens 1 Roo), how to build around our beautiful aspen trees, etc. I would love to have the trees in the run for shade and I don’t think I can bring myself to cut them down but the run needs to be covered. I have attached pictures of the coop in progress and the run space I’m working with. Also the existing fence is coming down. Thank you in advance for your thoughts.View attachment 2314853View attachment 2314854View attachment 2314855View attachment 2314856View attachment 2314857

Beautiful coop. I used one layer of bird netting and then a layer of plastic fencing on top of my run. I enclosed one try by twist tying the netting and fencing around the tree. I’m not sure how it will hold up this winter, but time will tell.