Finally decided to try my hand at building a run! Have questions!!

[Dmontgomery]

I wasn't sure if your photos showed all the chicks or not. For now you could use the little quart waterer you have now for the electrolyte mix, since they are used to it, and just get one larger container for the regular water. That way the excess "chicken Gatorade" always stays cold in the frig.

 

[nharbison0722]

I wasn't sure if your photos showed all the chicks or not. For now you could use the little quart waterer you have now for the electrolyte mix, since they are used to it, and just get one larger container for the regular water. That way the excess "chicken Gatorade" always stays cold in the frig.

Right now I have 6 chicks. 4 Production Reds and 2 cuckoo Murans. On the 30th I'll be getting 2 Americanas and 2 Brahmas. That's a great idea for the water. I know I can't put the water I'm
Using in metal water dishes due to the apple cider vinegar.

 

[waddles99]

Are you sinking wire around the run or covering the bottom with it? If so, I strongly suggest you get some welded wire to sink or cover the bottom of the run in order to keep out predators. They will dig to get in there, trust me. Also, I suggest instead of chicken wire, you use welded wire. Chicken wire can be easily ripped to shreds by a predator. It is ok for the top of the run, but for the sides, not good.

 

[nharbison0722]

Are you sinking wire around the run or covering the bottom with it? If so, I strongly suggest you get some welded wire to sink or cover the bottom of the run in order to keep out predators. They will dig to get in there, trust me. Also, I suggest instead of chicken wire, you use welded wire. Chicken wire can be easily ripped to shreds by a predator. It is ok for the top of the run, but for the sides, not good. 

Thanks for the advice! I'm completely new to this and have NO EXPERIENCE building anything! I'm not sure what welding wire is, but I'll find out. I just spent $79 on this roll of chicken wire, and I am making sure to sink about 6 inches down into the ground. I didn't think we had too many predators around our area that would mess with the coop/run. We have a fenced in back yard and two dogs. We're in Central Texas, so no moles, foxes, raccoons or opossums.
Thanks for the advice, I will check out the welding wire. Any other advice and ideas are extremely welcomed!!!

 

[waddles99]

Thanks for the advice! I'm completely new to this and have NO EXPERIENCE building anything! I'm not sure what welding wire is, but I'll find out. I just spent $79 on this roll of chicken wire, and I am making sure to sink about 6 inches down into the ground. I didn't think we had too many predators around our area that would mess with the coop/run. We have a fenced in back yard and two dogs. We're in Central Texas, so no moles, foxes, raccoons or opossums.
Thanks for the advice, I will check out the welding wire. Any other advice and ideas are extremely welcomed!!!

Here is some welded wire options: http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/search/welded wire
Around here we have coons, bears, and foxes. They would rip through chicken wire easily, so that is why we need welded wire. If you truly believe that nothing could rip through chicken wire, then go for it. A fenced in area and 2 dogs sounds pretty secure. But i would hate to see a predator get in and kill your birds. I have lost birds to predators and it really is discouraging. I would actually go further down into the ground if i were you, maybe more like 12". And curve it out, and put bricks on it to weigh it down. Rats and mice can dig and get in. They will eat your chickens feed and possibly nibble on them while they sleep.

 

[nharbison0722]

Here is some welded wire options: http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/search/welded wire
Around here we have coons, bears, and foxes. They would rip through chicken wire easily, so that is why we need welded wire. If you truly believe that nothing could rip through chicken wire, then go for it. A fenced in area and 2 dogs sounds pretty secure. But i would hate to see a predator get in and kill your birds. I have lost birds to predators and it really is discouraging. I would actually go further down into the ground if i were you, maybe more like 12". And curve it out, and put bricks on it to weigh it down. Rats and mice can dig and get in. They will eat your chickens feed and possibly nibble on them while they sleep. 

Awesome! Thanks for the info, I'll check that out. So I'll definitely run the wire deeper and use the bricks like you said- great advice! Thanks again! Yeah, I definitely don't want anything to harm my girls, especially if it was because I was careless in my coop/run design. Thanks again!

 

[waddles99]

Awesome! Thanks for the info, I'll check that out. So I'll definitely run the wire deeper and use the bricks like you said- great advice! Thanks again! Yeah, I definitely don't want anything to harm my girls, especially if it was because I was careless in my coop/run design. Thanks again!

I tried to find you a pic for a visual reference. Here is something similar to what i was describing: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b0/34/b6/b034b645094b4d653cae5910f5f3c9d0.jpg
See how they curve it out? It makes it harder for anything burrowing to get though. I would weight it down some bricks or something to make sure it doesn't pop up.