Economic run ideas please

[Heather J]

if I were you, I wouldn't worry about putting up hog panels or chain link, and then hardware cloth on top of it. We ended up having to cement in 4x4 cedar posts because we couldn't pound a t-post through our rock pit of a yard, but we had planned to just pound the T-posts, wrap them with hardware cloth on bottom, chicken wire on top, and put in a heavy post for the gate and corners. We did this with the wood posts instead. then we found someone who bought a farm down the road that had been used to raise quail or something, and the new owner was going to raise chickens and didn't need the huge flight pen. He gave us a bunch of flight netting for free, which wrapped easily over the entire run (including the side where I lock my geese and ducks in at night) with lots hanging down each side that I can use for my next run. lol

you'll probably want to bury cedar posts or something similar on the corners because they are stronger if you're going to pull the fencing tight, but the rest could easily just be T-posts. Find out what kinds of animals you'll have to safeguard against during the day and lock your babies up tight at night and you'll be set.

And I echo the idea of craigslist or a local online classified location. I've seen lots of wire, wood, t-posts, etc, for way less than normal costs, if not free.

 

[Omran]

Quote:
hello friend,you can do what I did,I am not joking I went dumbstor diving in new construction areas,you will be surprised what good lumber you will find.

 

[PAChickenChick]

I also live in the "city" so to speak and am not allowed to free range. I'm poor as in POOR...lol

My coop is raised about 2 feet off the ground so that in the winter the girls will be able to go "outside" there if the snow is too deep....but what I do for a run is this....

I took pallets and broke them down....made a square frame (in shape, certainly not "square" in builders terms) and then covered that in chicken wire. It's actually quite light and my 10 yrold Son and I can move it quickly by ourselves.

I did not make it tall however, it's only 3 feet high or so...just enough for the chickens to hop/fly but not really fly. The reason I didn't need it tall was because I move it EVERY day (to save my grass and keep the neighbors happy)so it doesn't need to be "cleaned". I know that chicken wire isn't pred. proof...but there again...the chickens aren't ever out by themselves because my kids or myself are always puttering around. The coop on the other hand is secure with welded wire and I suppose I could use that on my run too and it still wouldn't be too much heavier. It doesn't have a door because I usually just lift up one corner and my Son puts the chickens in...same for getting them out again. (they've actually gotten to the point where they will follow my Son back to the coop so he doesn't even have to pick them up for that)

I admire you for living within your means...it's not an easy thing to do in our society! Sometimes I think it's a small blessing that my "means" doesn't give me too much opportunity to live beyond them....hahahaha

 

[pdpatch]

Just about everything n this run was salvaged from someplace else.

The base is railroad ties.
The 2x4 wall stud are actually the 2x4 out of Dunage (pieces of wood under those large stacks of wood) pieced together to make the studs. It took pieces of wood to make one stud.

The 2x6 roof rafters where salvaged from an equipment shed that go hit by a tornado. We got the lumber from the shed for helping tare it down.

The tin roof came form a Pig shelter hit by a different tornado, that we tore down for the material in it..

The wire was new, we did not use welded wire or anything heaver because we are out side most of the day. and at night they are put in the brick coop. Which was there before we moved here, and converted.

The chicken tractors frame is an old aluminum garage door the wood is from an old mobile home we were given and tore apart. The welded wire we used was new for the tractor.

The nesting boxes 1x4 and 1x 6's are from pallets. The hindges and handles came from the cabinets in the old mobile home.

Some of the items I have been using to make coops and runs here, we have collected over the last 20 years. We are also try to make anything new movable by adding some sort of wheels under it. Either like a hay wagon or a trailer.
Tom