I need advice about a 'daytime' run -- what is good enough?

[msjones]

We are completely new to this, and plan to pick up our 3 Buff Orpingtons tomorrow.

Our coop has an attached run, but it is very tiny -- just big enough to meet minimum space needs, so I'd like to add a bigger run. (Not too big, though. We're in a tiny city lot. I'm thinking about 4' x 4'.)

We will always be locking the hens in at night due to lots of raccoons in our neighborhood, but I want them to be able to come and go in and out of the coop into the run during the day.

Can you suggest an easy way to attach a run to an existing coop with a teeny-tiny run?

Would it be enough to just hammer together some 2 x 4s and staple on the wire? Do I need to worry about raccoons during the day? What about crows/cats?

I'd love to see some photos of any easy-to-build runs.

This is all brand-new to us, so any suggestions you have will be very appreciated!

 

[annek]

You may want to consider a portable tractor type set up. That way you could move it around. I used a dog/cat carrier to move mine back and forth from the coop to the tractor. They really enjoyed fresh ground. There are some easy plans for hoop tractors on this site, that is what I used.

 

[Nostalchic]

Hey Ms Jones; rather than just stapling the harware wire, try using screws with washers bigger than the hardware squares, that will be much more secure. The hardware cloth is really tough, but if you just use staples, it's pretty easy to pull/push away from its supporting structure. Or you could cover the attachment with 1X2" boards, those securely screwed to the 2x4's. Raccons are pretty much nocturnal, but foxes are out 24/7 and they are very well adapted to urban and rural environments - they may be your problem during the day, as well as dogs. Crows - no problem, except they eat your chicken feed. Cats - only a worry with chicks; standard size chickens (not chicks!) will run off cats. Good luck! Chris
PS: there are lots of pictures of runs on this site, lots of ideas. Use the search function for "runs", you'll get lots of great ideas!

 

[patandchickens]

Good enough is largely a matter of personal choice. But, bear in mind that almost everywhere, the BIG two daytime threats are hawks and loose dogs. (Or even one's own dog - look at how many BYC threads there are by people *sure* their dog would never do anything to their chickens until, one day, they did).

So I would suggest that at a minimum, the fence should be fairly dogproof (ie. not chickenwire, and with some degree of digproofing) and ideally topped with at least some cheap trellis netting to discourage hawks.

Less likely events you can worry about *after* taking care of those fundamentals. Like, yes, normally-nocturnal predators like raccoons and foxes and coyotes do sometimes hunt in the daytime, especially in late winter (scarce food) and late spring early summer (babies to feed). Crows and cats are not normally a threat to *full grown* chickens, but they are a threat to chicks and half-grown. How strongly you want to build to ward off those things is a matter of personal taste IMO.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Angelina's_Owner]

I have had raccoons break into my run during the day, at about 3 PM. My house backs up to a wooded area, and I thought the chickens would like the shade. So I put the Run near the trees. However, it was also shaded enough for the racoons to feel safe during the day. Good luck!

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

Hi from just south of you in Olympia.

I'm a girl, somewhat handy but no building experience. I bought a dog house for my three banties that I wanted to put in my front yard and move daily for fresh grass.

I went to Lowe's and bought a circular saw and some pressure treated 2 x 4's, 1 x 4's, deck screws, and hinges.

I had no clue what or how but just started holding the wood up to the coop so I would know how high and wide I needed the run to be so it would fit snug up against the coop part.

I used staples (thousands) because I didn't want to have to drill holes for screws and washers.

I'm really happy with how it turned out and how it looks in my front yard.

The only thing I don't like is how heavy the dog house is and how hard it is to move every morning 8' - the length of the run.

What ever you decide - tractor or stationary coop, just be sure to use hardware cloth that you apron out to prevent diggers and cover the run portion or part of it to keep the sun and rain off your chicks.

With the darker days/nights coming, you're going to want your run as preditor proof as possible.

Be sure to share some pics of your setup and chicks.