I'm looking for attractive Chicken Run ideas

[GldnValleyHens]

I decided to build onto our coop, adding another run. This is because I cannot control my love for chickens and just have to have one more Polish, some more of those cute bantams, and more egg layers. I can't help myself. So, we have 15 chickens ( actually one is a mean guinea) in a coop for 10. The other reason is I'm fed up with hawks and death claiming my special breeds. They are responsible for the death of my Polish, maybe another one too. Never knew what killed that one.
So the bantams and new Polish ( third times the charm right?) will be living in this run.
Problem is that this coop set into the slope behind it, and the run would not be level, or it would be level and leave 4 inch gaps for weasels and chickens to squeeze through. So any pics of fence type covered runs in this situation? I'm trying to see what will work. The new run is going behind the other one. I love living on a hill, but it makes for complicated building projects. Thanks guys!

 

[GldnValleyHens]

It doesn't appear to be on a slope, but it is. There is a 6 inch wall of dirt from where the excavator created a flat spot for the coop to rest.

 

[TomZilla43]

Are the 2 runs going to be adjoined or separate?

 

[lazy gardener]

Set your fence posts in concrete, having them upright. Then attach your bottom and top framing, and attach your hardware cloth for the fence "walls" and the skirt to those. Easy peasy.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

Are the 2 runs going to be adjoined or separate?

It will be adjoined, and a door connecting both.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

Set your fence posts in concrete, having them upright. Then attach your bottom and top framing, and attach your hardware cloth for the fence "walls" and the skirt to those. Easy peasy.

Ok, I will go over that with my dad, thanks

 

[Birdinhand]

looks great! that had to be a lot of work, especially the grading! with the additional run, maybe just go all along the back, roughly doubling the footprint. you could dig into the hill or you could add a small retaining wall along the existing back fence line and back fill up to a level surface and enclose the area with more of the same style fencing/roofing. you'd have to think about whether you will want to be able to stand up in the run. if so, you could just raise the roof to make up for the step up in ground level. not sure if it will help but here is a pic of what I did to deal with my slope. I can not stand in the right side addition. I occasionally need to get in there on my knees, but hardly ever.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

@Birdinhand, your coop is awesome! Looks very structurally sound! Thanks for the help. I am considering both you and lazy gardener's ideas

 

[Birdinhand]

@Birdinhand, your coop is awesome! Looks very structurally sound! Thanks for the help. I am considering both you and lazy gardener's ideas

thanks! all that rock is to hold dirt back. since chickens scratch and move dirt so much, I decided each level needs to be terraced, so it's flat. I don't know how to best describe it, but perhaps you can build a taller addition behind yours, uphill. you could add a higher roof line and a some windows above the existing roof line. wish I was good a drawing. :~)

 

[aart]

Attractive, in a 'house and gardens magazines' type way.....
....or functional? To me, functionality is most attractive and beautiful.