Need suggestions on my new run we're buliding..to make it stonger PICS

[Smokin Silkies]

First of all we don't know a whole lot about construction. I built these coops last fall and now me and the hubby are going to build a 24x24 enclosed run. I want to seperate it down the middle for the 2 different coops and have some type of door between the 2 coops. The posts are about 4' out of the ground and I want to put 4' high welded wire around the coop with chicken wire around the bottom. Then in between to seperate the coops, I'm just using chicken wire. We have the posts in the ground about 2'. We keep hitting rocks etc. People who lived here before us has thrown garbage, car parts, etc under this land and then covered it with 8" or so of dirt, so who knows what we are hitting? Anyways, how can I make it sturdier. I keep trying to tell my hubby that we need to put some type of braces or something for support before we put up the wire. We do plan to put some more wood along the top of posts (just like around the bottom) I just dont think it'll be strong enough. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated for us rookies! Thanks!!!

 

[teach1rusl]

Typically, you would use 4 x 4s or landscape timbers (something heavier and more substantial than 2 x 4s) for the corner posts...and set them in concrete. Did you set the corner posts in concrete??? The top bar will help sturdy it up, but you might add a diagonal bar on the corner sections as well. Right now it doesn't look really sturdy, so you may have to drill holes and screw (w/washers) your wire on rather than nail it on w/post nails. But maybe it's more solid than it looks?

ETA: Four foot high will not keep most chickens contained for long. Were you thinking of running chicken wire on top???

 

[Smokin Silkies]

We are putting poultry netting on top, we haven't bought it yet but thats what we were thinking. In one coop is my Silkies and in the other a few Buff Orps. I've never seen either fly, even when my dog chased them trying to play...doesnt mean they can't though. And no we didn't set them in concrete, although I had suggested he do that.

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

I have questions for you,

1. Do you plan to have the door in the ceter of the run or between the coops?
2. If in the center of the run why?
3. Would it be for the chickens or humans?
4. If for the chickens why put one at all?
5. If for humans in the center of the run why would you only want it to be four foot high are you only 3'9"?
6. Do you think that a dog couldn't get over a 4 foot high fence or any other predator for that matter?
7. Why didn't you make the cornor posts 4x4?
8. Do have ladders to come out the back of the coops (I didn't see any in the pics) or are they going to be cut later?
9. this one is the biggest yet

why didn't you look at the coop and run pictures here on BYC to get ideas for the way you should do it to enclose it?

Ok now with that being asked good work on the coops. with all that you were saying was in the ground under 8"of dirt what was it a Junk Yard?

I hate when people do that they cover it up thinking if out of sight out of mind until someone comes around and buys the place and tries to do things such as yall have good luck with that.

 

[CityChook]

I think that when you put up that wire, all those uprights are going to cave in. Or break. Or both. They don't look heavy enough.
For sure you want to put a top rail all the way around it at the least, and then maybe a diagonal between each post.

 

[Ozark Chicken]

Here is my 2 cents. The posts look like White Wood, probably Douglas Fir where you live. Point being if its not pressure treated its vulnerable to rot and insects, basically very rapid deterioration. you really need pressure treated 4x4 or landscape timbers. If you set in concrete you should dig a little deeper and put gravel or small rocks for several inches in the bottom to allow for drainage and the concrete around posts should be just a tad above the grade to keep the water from sitting in puddles against the post. Top braces or stringer will go along way to stabalize. Cross brace corners in an X top to bottom for stability. That should handle a lot of load and last years. I have a corral built similar to this and its 22 years old

 

[patandchickens]

Yup, pull those pieces of wood out of the ground quick before they start to rot, you can use them for something else. Instead, use a 4" cedar fencepost or pressure-treated 4x4s for at least the corners, and every 6 feet or so put another 4x4 or a metal t-post. Get them all as far into the ground as possible, even an extra 3" makes a big difference in strength, anything shallower than 18" for a t-post or 2.5' for a 4x4 is going to get wobbly pretty soon and a dog or wind could push it over.

Make sure you're putting in extra posts for a gate into each run, so you can get in there

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Smokin Silkies]

Quote:
1. I plan on putting the door in between the two coops
2. I want to put chicken wire in center just to keep my 2 breeds of chickens seperated (Buff Orps and Silkies)
3. Chickens
4. I figured I'd put welded wire with chicken on bottom for the perimeter of the pen and just chicken wire in between since its only to seperate chickens
5. I really don't plan on going into the pen unless I needed to, so its ok if I have to duck down...I'm 5'2"

6. I'm usually always home and they don't come out if I'm not. Also at night, I lock them in the coop. If I'm not home, they stay in the coops, but like I said...I'm always here.
7. We are definately going to put in 4x4 posts now...I don't know why he put those in. We have a couple 4x4 laying around here..not sure if they are treated??
8. We have a ladder in the one, but they refuse to use it...so I just open the back door and they like to jump in and out. The other coop has a small ladder that I put up when I open the door. We are planning on cutting both fronts open with a door and ramp so they can get out in the pen. The back doors will only be used for me to clean the inside.
9. I did look and saw alot of ideas but I don't remember if I saw detailed information about what materials to use. I should've looked longer but we rushed out to buy the pressure treated 2x4's that were on sale. I could just use (2) 2x4's to make a 4x4 couldn't I? It would save me alot of money...4x4's aren't cheap here.

The people that lived here is actually my brother-in-law. I guess years ago, all that flat land down there was all hill so he decided to just start dumping, along with everybody in the city, and filling it in to get flat land. Then they dumped dirt on top and planted grass. Personally I think its disgusting and completely wrong. We just bought it last fall so there is still ALOT of junk..couches, mattress springs, car parts...you name it, its down there. We got alot cleaned up and the rest we are getting done this summer.

Thanks for your suggestions

 

[Smokin Silkies]

Quote:
What do you suggest I do to get them in further? The furthest he got the posts was 2 feet, some only 1 1/2 feet. We just kept hitting whatevers under the dirt. Any suggestions as what to do if we just CAN'T get them further than 2.5'?? Thanks so much!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
You *could*, but I would not recommend it. It will rot through faster (yes, p/t wood does rot). If durability is an issue, it is worth springing for 4x4s, they aren't that expensive and you don't need that many.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat