Expanded Run Build

[Ted Brown]

I tried to post a thread in Predators and Pests seeking advice on how to Avoid/Minimize Pests; I am dealing with a mite (Northern Fowl) infestation and if I can avoid this again I would be very happy. That post got lost somehow and I decided to instead focus on a major step that was motivated by the infestation and, I hope, will assist in that goal. I have been allowing my flock to free range and believe the mites have come from my property/environment (no other possible source); I will eliminate free ranging and focus on prevention within a "closed" space.

I actually started the expanded run by installing eight vertical telephone poles in a 12' by 36' configuration before I built my coop. That was August of 2019 and I have been stalled ever since. The mites infestation has kick started the project, now underway and hope to finish in the next 4-5 days, My layout last August was faulty and I am having to jury rig the roof support frame; in essence it will have a very irregular frame and a rectangular sloped roof that will overhang the frame and, hopefully, make it disappear.

The run will:

1. have a footprint of roughly 12' by 15';
2. be 7' high at the back and 11' high in the front;
3. have a metal roof salvaged from a 100+ year old barn;
4. be fully enclosed with 1/2" by 1/2" hardware cloth;
5. have a people door that is under the roof and biased to the south front.

It is adjacent to my coop and will connect to my existing 10' by 16' run that is under the coop and has a height of 3'+. It will utilize my existing pop door and ramp. Progress so far:

 

[CluckerFamily]

I love the progress!

 

[2006powerstroke90]

That’s going to be an anarchy coop!

 

[Ted Brown]

So what will this run/pole shed space cost?

Some will know that I try for high result at low cost. I have not included any calculation of my and others time nor costs for diesel for the tractor, etc.

I got the hydro poles free from my neighbour across the road, they were payback for random help I have given over past years including clearing snow, scraping dirt and "over the fence" chats and smiles. I did spend a bit more than $250 to have some of them milled to give the lumber that I am using for the roof and original coop support frames. They are, BTW, western red cedar and should last many years.

I recently spent $250 for two additional 3" by 6" by 12' hemlock beams to complete the roof supports, thirty-two 1" by 4" by 12' and 16' hemlock boards for strapping over the roof frame and three 2" by 6" by16' hemlock rafter boards.

Last week I spent another $225 for metal beam/board hangers and screws to join everything together.

A while back a neighbour/friend called me to say that friends of hers had a pile of 3' by 8' roofing tin that had come from a barn that had been torn down years ago. They were leaving for British Columbia and wanted it gone. My neighbour negotiated $50 for close to 75 pieces, way more than I need but no doubt a number of pieces that are damaged or rusted through or cut or... I will need to make a trip to the dump to get rid of the excess or I may be able to sell some of it on Kijiji. I also have a number of cans of bright red metal primer and paint that was left over from a job a couple of years back as well as random roofing screws from various jobs over the years. I will use the paint to pretty things up.

Finally, in this time of shortage and ridiculous prices, I stumbled across a sale on hardware cloth at first $56 then $23 a roll for 4' by 50' 1/2" by 1/2" 19 guage. Bought 6 rolls for ~$300, more than I need but too good to pass up.

Total of ~$1025.

 

[Ted Brown]

That’s going to be an anarchy coop!

I wondered if you meant to say "anarchy co-op"? Otherwise I have no idea what you meant by the post.

 

[Ted Brown]

Over the noon hours I picked up the "barn find" roof tin. I will use selected pieces from the bottom.

 

[Ted Brown]

A bit more progress, I will do one more support beam along the front, then the last rafter over the run space proper (1/3 of total pole shed) and then do the strapping this afternoon.

 

[Ted Brown]

Kept on truckin'...

Got the middle front support beam in place. There are several pictures that show how one person with a tractor, ladders, scaffold(!) and lots of caution can get things built. There are a couple of pictures at the bottom that show how much my pole layout is out of alignment.

Strapping next...

 

[Ted Brown]

I had hoped to finish the strapping today but it gets dark before 5pm these days. Nevertheless, I got a start should take about an hour tomorrow morning then I can start putting roof tin down.

 

[aart]

You, and the birds, will be darn glad to have that run once the snow starts falling!