The Clark Farm
In the Brooder
So, on kind of a whim, I decided to build a run for my flock. We only have 3 hens, and one is a Bantam Cochin. I bought a "large" coop (according to the manufacturer, HA!) for them and then it wasn't enough space, then I bought a 10x5x6 dog run for them and I felt like that still wasn't enough space.. so I decided to build an a-frame 12x6x6 run for them. They're in the side yard so it can only be so big. They free range quite a bit every day, so they're spoiled and 10x5 is like prison to them, they tell me every time I put them back in it. I know a 12x6 isn't much bigger, but there's no smaller coop in it taking up space! I kept the small coop with nesting box in it because it doesn't fit in the a-frame due to the angle.
I'm no carpenter, but when we built it, I really thought about it's functionality and the fact that we live in central FL where it get sweltering 6 months out of the year. It could have easily taken 1 day, but with the heat index of 110 we paced ourselves so we wouldn't have a heat stroke. It took us 2 days. It's not 100% finished, I still want to reinforce the hinges on the door, go back and stain the unfinished spots we missed, trim the excess chicken wire around door, come up with a perch, apply bird netting around it too, etc. But it's functioning. Here's how we built it:
- We started with making x1 - 12x6 rectangular frame for the bottom with 3x4s (long story on how we left Lowe's with an odd ball size like that)
- We then built x3 - 6' a-frames to use as the body of the run, connecting every with galvanized brackets. We attached the top 12' board with brackets as well.
- We then secured the a-frames together at the 3' mark with 12' board using brackets to screw them in place.
- Then we measured and cut out the 1/4" plywood door (we used 1/4" because we only had a hand saw!). Measured out the spaces on the side and screwed in "walls" around the door. Attached hinges and locks. We left the top space above the door open to attach chicken wire for more air flow.
- We attached the door and walls to the end before securing the chicken wire. Using screws we screwed the plywood into the end a-frame.
- We stained/sealed everything.
- Then we attached the chicken wire (3'x100') from the bottom boards to the middle board. Then from the middle boards to the top board. Covered the top of the door with chicken wire, and covered the end of the frame with it. All secured by 10mm staples.
- We bought x3 - 8' plastic roofing material for the roof (used a lighter color for heat deflection), but after we saw it dumping buckets outside we realized that wasn't long enough so we went back and got x3 more to put further down. Using screws we secured the roofing from the top (wrapped that one for better water flow) to the majority of the way down. We kept the bottom open for airflow, the fence catches a lot of it so if it were all the way down it would be gross in there. The roofing was layered like roofing shingles so the water would flow down and not into the run.
- I went over and sealed all the screws with silicone.
And that's pretty much it! This wasn't an actual tutorial, more of an explanation on how we did it. I'm sure there are WAY better ways to do it, but we didn't have a saw, and Lowe's saw was conveniently "out of order" that busy Saturday... I would have loved to cut the correct angles and not had to use any brackets.
So far so good. I'm making that their daily run and getting rid of the horrible tarp cover situation as you can see in the pics. I need plans for more nesting boxes!!! They LOVE their current nesting box and "bedroom" roost, and they all lay their eggs int he same box. I'm hoping they will like the new ones I build! Any ideas? I might add a little loft style nesting box and roost.
I'm no carpenter, but when we built it, I really thought about it's functionality and the fact that we live in central FL where it get sweltering 6 months out of the year. It could have easily taken 1 day, but with the heat index of 110 we paced ourselves so we wouldn't have a heat stroke. It took us 2 days. It's not 100% finished, I still want to reinforce the hinges on the door, go back and stain the unfinished spots we missed, trim the excess chicken wire around door, come up with a perch, apply bird netting around it too, etc. But it's functioning. Here's how we built it:
- We started with making x1 - 12x6 rectangular frame for the bottom with 3x4s (long story on how we left Lowe's with an odd ball size like that)
- We then built x3 - 6' a-frames to use as the body of the run, connecting every with galvanized brackets. We attached the top 12' board with brackets as well.
- We then secured the a-frames together at the 3' mark with 12' board using brackets to screw them in place.
- Then we measured and cut out the 1/4" plywood door (we used 1/4" because we only had a hand saw!). Measured out the spaces on the side and screwed in "walls" around the door. Attached hinges and locks. We left the top space above the door open to attach chicken wire for more air flow.
- We attached the door and walls to the end before securing the chicken wire. Using screws we screwed the plywood into the end a-frame.
- We stained/sealed everything.
- Then we attached the chicken wire (3'x100') from the bottom boards to the middle board. Then from the middle boards to the top board. Covered the top of the door with chicken wire, and covered the end of the frame with it. All secured by 10mm staples.
- We bought x3 - 8' plastic roofing material for the roof (used a lighter color for heat deflection), but after we saw it dumping buckets outside we realized that wasn't long enough so we went back and got x3 more to put further down. Using screws we secured the roofing from the top (wrapped that one for better water flow) to the majority of the way down. We kept the bottom open for airflow, the fence catches a lot of it so if it were all the way down it would be gross in there. The roofing was layered like roofing shingles so the water would flow down and not into the run.
- I went over and sealed all the screws with silicone.
And that's pretty much it! This wasn't an actual tutorial, more of an explanation on how we did it. I'm sure there are WAY better ways to do it, but we didn't have a saw, and Lowe's saw was conveniently "out of order" that busy Saturday... I would have loved to cut the correct angles and not had to use any brackets.
So far so good. I'm making that their daily run and getting rid of the horrible tarp cover situation as you can see in the pics. I need plans for more nesting boxes!!! They LOVE their current nesting box and "bedroom" roost, and they all lay their eggs int he same box. I'm hoping they will like the new ones I build! Any ideas? I might add a little loft style nesting box and roost.
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