There are great ideas on BYC for building DIY customs coops and runs... but has anyone had good luck with just purchasing a large predator-resistant chicken run? Like something that basically snaps together? ...I am not particularly handy. I have been surprised how difficult it seems to find an easy-to-assemble kit, even if I am willing to spend like $1000! LOL. The enclosed walk-in omlet runs seem like the best bet at first glance, but I am still not overly impressed. Help!
If I were to buy something I’d get a chain link dog kennel, Perhaps with the tarp roof and put a coop within in. The size you need and cost will depend how many chickens you have.
Yes, I started with a prefab and 4 "pullets" (2 turned out to be cockerels, another story for another time). I bought a chain link dog run from Tractor Supply, 10x10x6, for $200. I bought either 3 rolls of 1/2X4X100 hardware cloth from home depot for about $170 each. So about $710 plus tax. The following year I bought more birds and 1 more chain link fence and hardware cloth. I opened one original panel and added the 4 new panels to make the run now be 10x30x6. Now I'm building a new coop. But that first 10x10x6 run was good for 4 birds.I have assembled a coop from a kit with a 4'x7' run surrounding it. I am basically looking to add a supplementary run area approx. 12'x12' or 12'x9' ... I have 4 pullets that will eventually be pretty large sized birds. I would like to spoil them if possible within my $1000 budget.