so, the actual style and square footage is something you will have to come up with, but here are some of my nuggests condensed.
- for the inner coop and attached run, I prefer hardware cloth. if you are looking at a larger run, too large to make the use of hardware cloth practical, electric fencing is the alternative for the larger area, while closing the birds in at night to a secure inner coop/roost.
-if the run can be fully enveloped in hardware cloth, it's the gold standard, IMHO, go with 1/2 inch. it keeps out rats to coons, birds cayotes, pretty much the whole shebang. for the inner coop and medium to small run, put posts close together enough to overlap the hardware cloth by at least a couple inches.
-the coop is best put on a level surface. dig down about 8", roll out the hardware cloth first, mend the part that will be under ground with thick black zip ties (since you don't have anything to nail to in the ground.
-I use 4"X4" pressure treated lumber for the posts and I have found the cheapest way to create a lasting base is to get the already assembled post holder with square concrete and galvanized post holder from home depot or loews.
-once you have the inner coop and run laid out with hardware cloth place the post holders around the edges, tamping them down a bit to settle the dirt. cut a little into the hardware cloth at the seams where it will need to go around the post hole holder. and since a picture is worth a thousand words, here you go:
- I did this build with a friend. I learned from my own trials that wrapping the hardware cloth like this, on top of the block, keeps the part of the hardware cloth that will be under ground, further from the eves, to keep it more dry, to extend it's life, otherwise you will likely see it rust out in 3-5 years. if done right, it can last for decades, I'm told.
- and while on the subject, make the eves stick out away from the fence and posts by 8-12 inches to keep rain and snow away from the hardware cloth.
-to fasten the fence to the posts, use galvanized "u" nails. after the first one or two, use a long, say 3" screw and washer at an angle, as a "come along" to make the fencing taught, then "U" nail it in place for a nice look without wrinkles/folds. put fasteners every 4" (inches) or so. frame out the coop and fasten the hardware cloth first, then add siding and roofing over tope of the hardware cloth. yes, I do mean add hardware cloth over the top, down the sides and underneath, you will avoid so many of the problems people come back and complain about, mainly rats and vermin killing their chickens, which is stressful for all involved. an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, or in this case, a pound of prevention is worth a ton of cure.
-leave enough pitch to the roof to shed water, chickens do better under cover for the most part as rain and snow turn their droppings and scratch dust into a cesspool in no time. if you want a big run and can afford covering the whole thing with hardware cloth, then I would also cover part of the hardware cloth with roofing to give them a place to go on wet days if the weather turns bad.
I like the large corregated roofing panels sold at most hardware stores. Home depot sells Suntough, and that stuff seems to hold up well to the elements. overlap it by at least one groove, ideally two, it is rigid enough to use on the eves without under support, but it's better if you can screw it down to plywood.
- for the run, back fill over the hardware cloth with some dirt, and if it were me, institute the deep litter method, it will save you a lot of time and hassle over the years and so far it seems to help foster a healthy micro biome reducing the need for anti biotics and other medications over time.
hope that helps!
- for the inner coop and attached run, I prefer hardware cloth. if you are looking at a larger run, too large to make the use of hardware cloth practical, electric fencing is the alternative for the larger area, while closing the birds in at night to a secure inner coop/roost.
-if the run can be fully enveloped in hardware cloth, it's the gold standard, IMHO, go with 1/2 inch. it keeps out rats to coons, birds cayotes, pretty much the whole shebang. for the inner coop and medium to small run, put posts close together enough to overlap the hardware cloth by at least a couple inches.
-the coop is best put on a level surface. dig down about 8", roll out the hardware cloth first, mend the part that will be under ground with thick black zip ties (since you don't have anything to nail to in the ground.
-I use 4"X4" pressure treated lumber for the posts and I have found the cheapest way to create a lasting base is to get the already assembled post holder with square concrete and galvanized post holder from home depot or loews.
-once you have the inner coop and run laid out with hardware cloth place the post holders around the edges, tamping them down a bit to settle the dirt. cut a little into the hardware cloth at the seams where it will need to go around the post hole holder. and since a picture is worth a thousand words, here you go:
- I did this build with a friend. I learned from my own trials that wrapping the hardware cloth like this, on top of the block, keeps the part of the hardware cloth that will be under ground, further from the eves, to keep it more dry, to extend it's life, otherwise you will likely see it rust out in 3-5 years. if done right, it can last for decades, I'm told.
- and while on the subject, make the eves stick out away from the fence and posts by 8-12 inches to keep rain and snow away from the hardware cloth.
-to fasten the fence to the posts, use galvanized "u" nails. after the first one or two, use a long, say 3" screw and washer at an angle, as a "come along" to make the fencing taught, then "U" nail it in place for a nice look without wrinkles/folds. put fasteners every 4" (inches) or so. frame out the coop and fasten the hardware cloth first, then add siding and roofing over tope of the hardware cloth. yes, I do mean add hardware cloth over the top, down the sides and underneath, you will avoid so many of the problems people come back and complain about, mainly rats and vermin killing their chickens, which is stressful for all involved. an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, or in this case, a pound of prevention is worth a ton of cure.
-leave enough pitch to the roof to shed water, chickens do better under cover for the most part as rain and snow turn their droppings and scratch dust into a cesspool in no time. if you want a big run and can afford covering the whole thing with hardware cloth, then I would also cover part of the hardware cloth with roofing to give them a place to go on wet days if the weather turns bad.
I like the large corregated roofing panels sold at most hardware stores. Home depot sells Suntough, and that stuff seems to hold up well to the elements. overlap it by at least one groove, ideally two, it is rigid enough to use on the eves without under support, but it's better if you can screw it down to plywood.
- for the run, back fill over the hardware cloth with some dirt, and if it were me, institute the deep litter method, it will save you a lot of time and hassle over the years and so far it seems to help foster a healthy micro biome reducing the need for anti biotics and other medications over time.
hope that helps!
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