Ideas for a run

[basscatcher26]

I currently have two red sexlink hens.because where I live they are coop bound but I would like to get them out into the yard so they can do some bug hunting. I have thought about building a small chicken tractor but I'm not sure if that's the best way to go anyone have an idea. I have a run that is attached to my coop it's fairly good sized

 

[alibabba]

tons of ideas ... depends on your layout. Doesn't have to be heavy duty wood if you run a couple strands of electric, and can be moveable.


PVC and welded wire worked well, in a circle shape... very light! You could do one in a rectangle or square also. The materials are not as expensive as a wooden structure. Nice for the chickens to get to fresh stuff after a few days. I wouldn't do a run without electric unless you have no daytime predators at all and they are locked up predator proof at night,

You could rotate it around the coop door, 2 little hens won't do much damage, so you won't have to move it daily.

 

[basscatcher26]

The pvc may be the way to go they would only be out when I'm home and back in their coop at night the only real predators I have seen around is a hawk biggest issues are dogs so the electric may also be a must thanks for the idea

 

[the poppster]

How about a frame built of 2x2s or 1x3s and covered on all sides with welded wire...it needn't be very high if you've no need to enter it yourself...so it could be 8 to 10 ft long and 4 or 5 ft wide 2 ft high...just as an example...the dimensions are totally up to you..with this size and materials if you put some handles on it, it could be moved from one area to another around the yard...put a hinged hatch in the top, so you can put water and food for them...give them a little shade with a small tarp or something like that covering the top at one end. If you don't get to wild with size and height, it should end up light enough to be moved by two people....or add a set of wheels and one person can move it. The pic pipe is lighter.....might be cheaper....but can be flimsy....but with welded wire to stiffen it up....would work fine as well....expense isn't an issue for me with the wood...I'm Lucy enough to know someone with a portable saw mill...I've used what they call "off cuts" or "stringers" that are usually discarded or used as spacers when they pile the finished boards....

 

[basscatcher26]

I'm actually a dry wood kiln operator at a lumber mill and I may have some access to scrap wood. That's also a very good idea as well I like that it could give me a little more sturdiness whatever I do it must have wheels