Looking for extra run

[Ridgerunner]

In my earlier post I didn't realize you wanted to be able to move it. That you actually want a tractor. That makes it harder.

Oh I see how it is. But we wouldn’t be able to move it about the yard. If I built that, I’d feel like the coop has to stay put.

When I built my tractor I had two separate 4' x 8' sections. One contained the nests and roosts and was the heaviest part but still movable. The other section had one end covered so I could keep the feed dry but was mostly covered in wire and only 24" high. Pretty light and horrible access but since I was moving it every couple of days it worked. While I moved them I could block the pop door on both sections so they could not get out. I locked them together using bolts and butterfly nuts when I wasn't moving them and let them have access to both sections 24/7. This was only for summertime. In winter I had a permanent coop and run for them. My winter climate was milder than yours and I had 8 mature chickens in that 64 square feet tractor during summer.

I would consider your original tractor not horrible for four mature chickens since you are moving it regularly, maybe daily. For your six chickens it is probably too small as it is no matter how often you move it. In your climate you will not be moving it in winter.

So you want something you can move regularly in summer yet get through your winters with 6 chickens. If you remove that current "run" section that would make it hard to move that coop section so leave it, or at least the framing and the lifting handles. Removing the wire and leaving that pop door permanently locked would get rid if your access issues.

I could see cutting a new pop door on the side of that coop opposite of the nests and building a separate "run" section that can easily detached for movement. That could be a hoop coop style, maybe the wood at the ground level being 4x4 treated wood for the sides (consider them sled runners and bevel the ends to make them slide easier) and 2x4's across the front and back of this section. You should be able to move this since the hoop coop top could be pretty light. The pop door connection would be on one flat end and the human door on the other end.

The more options you want the harder it is to design for. A harsher climate doesn't help. Good luck!

 

[Iluveggers]

Here’s a thought that may be possible. Set up a run (pic below from Amazon) and butt the coop up to that run and let them out into the bigger run using a pop door. Or just keep your coop inside this kind of run with a pop door.View attachment 3242977

Although this isn’t super predator proof, it is light enough for 2 people to move around, easy to assemble, and a bigger tarp can cover the whole thing. We have one at the farm, and it has held up through the NY winter. One heavy snow we went out and used a broom to move the snow off so it wouldn’t get too heavy but that was the only time I was worried. You could attach this to your little run, which is more secure for night time, and let them into this during the day if you don’t have heavy daytime predators, moving the whole structure a few times a month when the grass gets eaten down.

 

[CarlaCo]

This is in your post but the comment's sound like you've ruled it out? What is your property/footprint? Fenced yard or acreage or ? Asking because if I had that coop I'd consider it to be for lock up only and everyone goes out during the day, and in that scenario the missing adequate run space isn't such an issue. Of course if you can't free-range then where everyone is going in this thread makes sense.... I have a big chain link run, about 1500sq ft. but because they free range I don't really need it, it's just a nice to have.....

We own one little acre sandwiched between two other houses with bigger properties. The debate is that they may wander too far if free ranging and go down to our neighbors yard who has chickens but they are fenced in a giant fenced in garden. The other neighbors are more hidden but have several large dogs. We have a cat but once they are full grown, I’m not really worried about her. She’s not much of a hunter.

 

[CarlaCo]

In my earlier post I didn't realize you wanted to be able to move it. That you actually want a tractor. That makes it harder.


When I built my tractor I had two separate 4' x 8' sections. One contained the nests and roosts and was the heaviest part but still movable. The other section had one end covered so I could keep the feed dry but was mostly covered in wire and only 24" high. Pretty light and horrible access but since I was moving it every couple of days it worked. While I moved them I could block the pop door on both sections so they could not get out. I locked them together using bolts and butterfly nuts when I wasn't moving them and let them have access to both sections 24/7. This was only for summertime. In winter I had a permanent coop and run for them. My winter climate was milder than yours and I had 8 mature chickens in that 64 square feet tractor during summer.

I would consider your original tractor not horrible for four mature chickens since you are moving it regularly, maybe daily. For your six chickens it is probably too small as it is no matter how often you move it. In your climate you will not be moving it in winter.

So you want something you can move regularly in summer yet get through your winters with 6 chickens. If you remove that current "run" section that would make it hard to move that coop section so leave it, or at least the framing and the lifting handles. Removing the wire and leaving that pop door permanently locked would get rid if your access issues.

I could see cutting a new pop door on the side of that coop opposite of the nests and building a separate "run" section that can easily detached for movement. That could be a hoop coop style, maybe the wood at the ground level being 4x4 treated wood for the sides (consider them sled runners and bevel the ends to make them slide easier) and 2x4's across the front and back of this section. You should be able to move this since the hoop coop top could be pretty light. The pop door connection would be on one flat end and the human door on the other end.

The more options you want the harder it is to design for. A harsher climate doesn't help. Good luck!

I have to wrap my head around it but all of that sounds good to me.
I saw a fellow who built a small walk in out of 1x6’s - the four on the ground were ground contact type and he covered the whole in hardware cloth. Not sure if we’re able to pull it off but I thought we could do something similar and make two of the long ends a little longer than the pen length and add a couple wheels and make a handle for pulling on the other end. Like this but without the coop part? It could be detached.
The vent side may be the best place to attach and just create a pop hole door there for access?

 

[CarlaCo]

Although this isn’t super predator proof, it is light enough for 2 people to move around, easy to assemble, and a bigger tarp can cover the whole thing. We have one at the farm, and it has held up through the NY winter. One heavy snow we went out and used a broom to move the snow off so it wouldn’t get too heavy but that was the only time I was worried. You could attach this to your little run, which is more secure for night time, and let them into this during the day if you don’t have heavy daytime predators, moving the whole structure a few times a month when the grass gets eaten down.

Yes! I have definitely been looking at that type. If it’s big enough I could leave it for a week without moving. Def a possibility.

 

[CarlaCo]

My grass in the back yard has never looked better. They have full run of the yard, but I am fortunate enough to have a six-foot fence. Also, I had a jungle of weeds I let get away from me and those girls had it gone by late last Fall.

My son too has a good size yard with chain link all around. He’s getting an eglu and taking half our flock. 5 hens and a roo. I really envy both of you!

 

[CarlaCo]

Although this isn’t super predator proof, it is light enough for 2 people to move around, easy to assemble, and a bigger tarp can cover the whole thing. We have one at the farm, and it has held up through the NY winter. One heavy snow we went out and used a broom to move the snow off so it wouldn’t get too heavy but that was the only time I was worried. You could attach this to your little run, which is more secure for night time, and let them into this during the day if you don’t have heavy daytime predators, moving the whole structure a few times a month when the grass gets eaten down.

The only downside to these that I can see is I can’t staple hardware cloth. The mesh they give looks like a dog could easily break through too.

 

[CarlaCo]

This lady used the 4x8 dog kennel for a run and she says she’s very happy with it. Wonder how wheels could be attached?
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/715aeaPA4AL._SY500.jpg

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

This is more pleasing to the eye than the old chain link. Oh, and a big no to the netting as you mentioned you did not prefer it. I was looking at Home Depot for chain link runs, ended up on Amazon looking at baboo which would be great to use as a wind break this winter. I am the worst SQUIRREL when searching for things.
Do you have a Fencing Company in your area?
Have you Checked out Overez Coops (I love mine) with runs.

 

[Lainey-chick]

The only downside to these that I can see is I can’t staple hardware cloth. The mesh they give looks like a dog could easily break through too.

Our run is a dog kennel. We buy rolls of galvanized wire like the pic below and cut it to twist around and attach hardware cloth to the metal poles of the dog kennel. It‘s strong and works well.