Need advice on fixing my run/coop!! Help me get my girls back!!

[jenjan8998]

Alright, so I have an acre completely fenced, with 4ft chain link. As you can imagine, chickens soon started jumping fence, even with clipped wings.

I have a dog run, it is approximately 8'x20'. It is just a fenced in area, with the 4ft chain link too. That is where I placed my coop. Everything was fine, until they started jumping the fence. My coop stands about 6-7 ft tall, maybe a little taller, so I cant just add a flat cover.

I am down to one chicken, since all others have jumped and then been taken by the neighbors dogs. I want my chickens back!!

So, how do I fix just the 8x20 run area? I love the size of the run, so I would love to keep that, but not if the girls are gonna keep going over. My only idea so far, is getting an already built dog kennel, and fixing that up to be safe for the chickens. Only since that has the height I need, and can easily add a cover. But they are so expensive, and I would lose to much footage for the sizes I can afford.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to extend my already built runs height so I can easily add a cover? Or how to build a cover on the 4ft height, up and over my coop?

Or any other ideas of building a new area, on a cheaper budget.

BONUS QUESTION:
Since I will no longer be free ranging on my whole acre, and only keeping them in a 8x20 area, or 10x10 at the minimum, how many chickens would that fit comfortably?

Thanks for any and all help!!


I need my chickens!!!

 

[BBQJOE]

How about getting some 8 ft or better T-posts, put them around the run, then string some chicken wire, raising the height of the whole thing?

 

[animalgrl]

I rent and needed a temporary structure within a fenced area, similar to your situation. Basically, I took 3/4 inch PVC pipe (1 inch pipe would probably be better), made a frame with the PVC pipe and fittings, including bracing across the top,that fit withing the boundaries of the existing fence and covered the part above the 4 foot fence, including the top, with chicken wire (although hardware cloth would be better). I made a door frame out of PVC pipe as well and covered that with chicken wire and just screwed hinges into the pipe to attach it. Works well to keep the girls in. It doesn't snow here, so this might not be the best solution if you get heavy snow that would weigh the top down. But it is fairly inexpensive and works well. There are also example of people on this site attaching curved "hoops" of PVC pipe to the tops of chain link and making a curved roof that can be covered with wire. If you look in the coops pages you can probably find some pics.

 

[jenjan8998]

Thanks! Thats a good idea, that would work!

 

[BBQJOE]

Thanks! Thats a good idea, that would work!

You think my suggestion would be too hard? It might take an hour or so.

 

[jenjan8998]

I meant wouldnt!!

 

[BBQJOE]

I meant wouldnt!!

Fork me. I'm so confused.

Four to eight T-Posts, a post pounder and a roll of 3-4 foot chicken wire and some bailing wire, you'd have like an 8 foot fence.

 

[jimbob86]

This is the internet .... if it exists, and is for sale, it's easy to find:

http://www.wireclothman.com/shop.php?cPath=44&screen=1

 

[jimbob86]

Add some 8 foot t-posts ....... some 1x4's to your dog run and you'd have a secure day run....... not coon proof, but that's a night time problem, generally.