HELP! I need chicken run building advice!!

[keeko]

Hello everybody!
I bought this great little coop from Donald at cockadoodlecoops.com, and it just arrived last week. I believed my husband (who is NOT handy) when he told me 2 months ago that he could build the run, but now that we are face to face with the coop, neither of us have any idea of where to begin. Unfortunately, I can't let my chickens free-range all day, so we want a run big enough to give them space the majority of the time. I also want a run tall enough to stand up in, but the coop is only about 4'7" high (maybe 5"3' standing on bricks), but I don't think it would be stable if we put it up on enough bricks or blocks to be 6 feet tall. Here are pictures of the coop on Donald's website; and any suggestions, plans, or design advice you could give on how to make this run possible would be great!
THANK YOU!

http://www.cockadoodlecoops.com/812cockadoodlecoop.htm
http://www.cockadoodlecoops.com/cooppics.htm

 

[CityChook]

from MN

I wouldn't recommend putting it up on bricks - doesn't look too stable.
Maybe consider putting the coop in the run instead of attaching it to the run. Then you could make the run as tall as you wanted.
I agree that having a run that you can walk into is preferable.
If he doesn't think that he can do the construction, check out craigslist - there are lots of reasonably priced carpenters that can use the work.

 

[keeko]

I've thought about it, especially after seeing other people's pictures on the website, but I'd rather not have to go through the run to get to the eggs or clean the coop. The trick is definitely figuring out how to attach the run to the front of the coop AND make it secure against predators...

 

[patandchickens]

The easiest thing would be to build a totally fenced run (with a people door, don't forget!), then park the coop right slap against one side of it, cut a hole in the run fence to match where the popdoor is, and secure the run fencing to the coop there. Ta da

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[possumqueen]

Hey, Keeko!

Yet another chicken person in NC!

You would want the coop outside the pen so you can scrape out poop from underneath it, since the inside is wire floor.

Looking at the second website you included in your first post, there was a picture on there where he did as pat suggested -- put it right against a chain link fence and cut a hole for the pop door. That would make the whole thing a lot more stable, too. And a chainlink dog pen is fairly inexpensive and easy to assemble. You can put shade cloth on the top of it to keep out sun and critters.

 

[keeko]

Thanks Possumqueen!

I have to admit, we've thought about that too

But my only concern with a dog pen would be the chainlink fence...aren't the holes too big, and would allow a critter to stick their paws in there? I'm trying to think of the worst-case scenario, and prevent against it. I know I've heard that people don't use "chicken wire" (and instead use hardware cloth) because the chicken wire has large openings in the mesh. Does that make sense?

 

[greenpeeps]

If your not very handy look for an old swing set and place in front of the coop and wrap it with some chicken wire. I've seen a couple of people do this on here before. Do a search for a swing set coop.

Good Luck with your chicks!

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

The chain link dog pen would be the best if you or your DH are not handy with building things.

You will have to do some work to it to make it predator proof, though.

Put hardware cloth all around it, you can use outdoor zip ties to fasten it, or wire it to the chain link. Make sure to cover where the panels meet, and around the gate (make sure you fill in the gaps between panels).
Put down an apron of wire on the ground all around the pen, attaching it to the pen.

Make sure if you put any roosts in the pen, that the chickens won't be against the chain link. Put hardware cloth anywhere the chickens can be next to the fence to prevent coons and such from reaching in and getting them.

I hope this helps you.
By the way, I really like the coop!

Jean

 

[Oopoo]

I think you could build a poop shoot underneath too. A laminate covered plywood that would "slide" all the poop to the fence instead of letting it drop straight down or suspend a tray underneath to catch it. Also, does that coop come with a floor for winter--do you need to worry about winter-didn't catch where you were located.

 

[Keene's coop]

i would put the coop inside the run and put netting ontop so no birds can get in.