Making a Chain-link Chicken Run Look Attractive

[Echolalia]

So, I decided to go with the most cost-effective chicken run option, a chain-link dog run. Thing is, I hate chain-link anything - I think the stuff is unbelievably ugly. Any suggestions as to how to make the chicken run more pleasing to the eye?


Thanks!!

 

[Hawkeye95]

I am planning on planting honeysuckle along the sides for shade and a winter wind break. The vine (if you help train it) will grow up and over the sides and it will smell great and look beautiful. It also stays green in the winter (at least in my zone 6 Kansas). I'm also going to do a bit of landscaping and put in some shrubs and a few pavers where the door is. I think if you plant some flowers or make it look cute along the outside, it will look great! Turn it into a shady oasis. There are other vine options-- like grapes, trumpet vines, wisteria.... For the shrubs, I'm thinking Crepe Myrtle, boxwood and roses. Vines are cheap- and they grow FAST!

 

[Hopefulloflove]

I agree! I really dislike chain link also...I'll be interested to see what folks have to say about this!

 

[Echolalia]

Quote:
I was thinking about that, too. My big concerns with vining plants is:
a) they must be safe to eat (I've heard that morning glory is toxic to chicken & imagine that datura would be bad too)
b) they'd have to be hardy enough to withstand foraging chickens (they've completely wrecked one of my fuschia and have really done a number on my flower beds)
c) they'd have to add a pleasant flavor/no flavor to their eggs

Wisteria sounds like it'd be pretty, if I could get it to grow here. I live ~3 miles from the beach and our summers are foggy and chilly.

 

[zengrrl]

Morning glories grow like madness and will easily cover a fence!

 

[groundpecker]

You may can find some colored (slats) to slide in the chain link to make it look better. You could call a few fence companies and ask if they have any. If they have some left overs from a job, you could get them for a decent price.

 

[Nicolette'sFarmette]

Black chain-link fence is so much more attractive looking! So, you could paint it black...a lot of people paint hardware cloth black. Just an idea!

 

[Bantam Chase]

I was just coming to post "How to make chainlink NOT look like chainlink"! I bought a nice large 8x13 kennel but am afraid its going to be such an eyesore... the plan is to have it permanent, but if its too ugly it'll go.
I'd be concerned that the birds would eat anything growing up the sides or close enough they could reach if they can stick their heads through the wire. I"m thinking of painting the thing black, then adding wooden corners, possibly with a pergola or arbor style roof with plantings around. I'd LOVE to see pictures of others' chain link runs and how they've dressed them up... even if its the dog run and not for the hens!

 

[ThinkingChickens]

You could paint it with a good quality spray paint. Also, you could add signs to the outside and maybe a barn star or two if you are into that. You could plant around it or add raised players around it for vegetable gardening. I'd say color color color. The more color you can add the more the chain link will fade to the background.

 

[Echolalia]

Quote:
This thread seems to suggest the morning glory is toxic to chickens. The jury seems to be out on datura, but I wouldn't risk it.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=231628