Need pics of BIG runs- ideas for cheap run construction help!!

[Jack Sparrow]

I don't know about predators but as soon as I got my run covered on top with chicken wire my outside cat climbed a tree next to the run and walked across the top to see how she could get in. I thanked her for doing the predator test. My run is 20 x 20 and it totally surrounds the coop. I made it 7' tall to walk under and put 1x2's across the top to support the chicken wire. It works for me because we have no snow here, I don't know how it would hold the weight of snow. Sorry, I have no pics.

 

[the4heathernsmom]

C&Rman , Most of my predators came from the top so I was just assuming but for the bottom I think I am going to bury tin into the ground all the way around the pen if I have enough if not I will definately be burying wire or solid rock because you are right they will dig through....the dogs and ground dwellers like skunks and possums will definately dig!!!

 

[the4heathernsmom]

Good idea Jacksparrow and thanks for the photo Veronica.....I like that idea maybe just a bit taller but it looks very sturdy!!!

 

[valentinebaby]

I live in North Texas and have lots of cedar trees on my property (or did before I built my run!). Since you're in East Texas, you'll have access to lots of cedar trees. I cut my some of my easter cedar trees down (the kind that stink) and made my own "natural" poles" sunk into the ground and filled with concrete - expect them to last as long as anything. I think you can see some of them on my BYC page. I used pressure treated 2x4's as the horizontal pieces to attach hardware cloth to. Glad to see that larger netting - want to make a much larger run but don't want to spend the big bucks on hardware cloth for the top (which is on my run attached to coop) so may check into it. Bobcats have been horrific this year!

 

[the4heathernsmom]

yea we had a wild cat of some kind too......I think it was a bobcat too but no proof. It was a bad year for us last year with predators I think we had everything there is around here get after the chickens.

We dont have many cedars on my place what I have I want to keep but that is definately a good idea

 

[veronica2368]

Your welcome...the old coop is barely 6 feet...and it gets shorter the closer you get to the coop.......the new one being built is 6 and a half feet at the shortest part and 8 feet at the tallest. We raised it at the coop so we could open the door, and also so we could see the coop without the run being in the way..lol

 

[the4heathernsmom]

I think I am going to have to go upwards because at the edge of the slope of tin on the coop the height is right at 6ft maybe a few inches less so if I dont go up a little from the coop edge then I and whoever else enters is going to be rubbing along the top of the enclosure which I really dont want.

 

[the4heathernsmom]

Ok got the floor of coop leveled and fresh hay down........ not a lot but getting there one day at a time....

 

[fireguy56]

Check out my page to see new coop I build and what I used for my run. Got off craigs list for $10 a ten foot section. See what ya think. Might give ya an idea.

 

[Kudzu]

fireguy, that is one nice set up, great job.