Design help needed

[Willowbirch]

Hi all
Someone recently gave us a portable garage frame (see pic) and we'd like to use it as an enclosure/run for our five hens, one rooster and two drakes. Anyone have experience transforming a frame like this into a home for their birds? It measures 12x12x8.

 

[RUNuts]

No experience, but lots of wonderful ideas. Oh, the possibilities!

I think I'd screen it in using 1x2s for support. Wire would work. Bird netting on top or do you want a covered run?

 

[Pyxis]

You could very easily do something with that! Perhaps something like a hoop coop. You could attach welded wire to the frame, build a door frame in the front, and use tarps as the covering. I have three hoop coops that are like that, with cattle panels as the base instead of a frame like yours. If it might help you with ideas, here's a link to my build: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/pyxis-hoop-coop.66037/

 

[The Brick Coop]

We bought a fabric-covered portable coop at the PA Farm Show several years ago that we call our "yurt" because it's dome-shaped. It has lasted a looong time for a fabric coop. I move it every 3-5 days to fresh grass. I love it. Spacious, bright, and fresh grass! Yours will be too big for you to move by yourself but you will at least be able to move it once in a while if you want. I suggest that you choose either portable or else definitely not--with a wood frame and hardware cloth floor so rats can't dig into your coop. I haven't posted much and don't remember where you are--do you get much snow? That will collapse it even if you just cover it with wire. The Japs in the picture are in it. Perhaps make 2 smaller coops with your framing?

 

[yogifink]

I have seen quite a few folks turn carport into small barns, and have thought about doing it myself. A few pallets and some tin roofing would serve you well.