need to construct chicken run asap!

[babychickens321]

I have to make a run for my three pekin bantam chickens.
We bought a coop for them which looks like this

image from google
but it is small for them and not predator proof. because of the coop not being predator proof, at night we bring them inside, but my mums patience is running out because they poop all around the conservatory. We have a box for them to sleep in but because they are growing it is getting smaller for them so they jump out. Instead of buying another box, we're going to be making it appropriate for them to live outside, since that is where they are meant to live.
Do you have any ideas or tips on how to construct the run?

I only have a garden so I cannot make something giant for them, and I will be making it on the patio. It is currently winter so they barely free range for an hour, because we let them free range when we are there to watch out for them, and they are just around 4 months old, but the patio has 10 squared feet each for them so they will have enough space in the winter when they don't free range as much. Obviously, we'll let them out in the summer more.

image from google
for the walls im planning on buying galvanised welded wire panel which is 12 gauge and has 2 inch holes. I don't know how ill actually make it though, just like make it stand up or what? its on hard flooring so I can't dig it under the ground or something. I need posts but will they stand up by themselves without getting dug in the ground? What posts should I buy? The galvanised wire panel is 8ft by 4ft so ill need two (because its just two walls I need, the other two walls will he the back of the house and the conservatory because it sticks out, if you get what I mean.

What roof do I use? I want to use a wooden one with wooden posts but where do I find that, or how do I build it myself?

How will I put the bedding on, will I just pour the sand or shavings in the middle? Wont some of it leak because of the gaps in the cage. How will I clean it if the sand is directly on the ground? If the sand is on the ground after scratching a little, won't they just reach the ground of the patio.

What bedding do you recommend for a chicken run. Some peoples wood chips because its not muddy, but then I've read somewhere else its bad for chickens respiratory system. How often will I have to change the bedding of the run? If I choose sand, how will they find bugs or things in it?

I'm really baffled as to how im supposed to put posts and a fence on a patio without it getting knocked over or digging it in the ground, how do you keep it standing?

Please let me know how you made a chicken run on a patio, or should I even make it on the patio? I would put it on the grass except it will get really muddy in the rain. How do I put a bedding on the grass? I think it would be much more secure on the patio, like the fox wont be able to dig, and has only two access points to the coop, seeing as the other sides of the coop is the brick wall of the kitchen and the glass part of the patio.

Thank you!!

 

[3KillerBs]

I would not put a run on a patio because chickens need to be able to dig and scratch.

If you were to put it on the patio you would need to provide a very thick layer of bedding (coarse wood chips are often considered the gold standard) -- and that same thick layer of bedding would serve the purpose of preventing mud if the coop were on grass.

To prevent digging predators it's best to put in a wire anti-dig skirt around the outside of the coop.

 

[babychickens321]

I would not put a run on a patio because chickens need to be able to dig and scratch.

If you were to put it on the patio you would need to provide a very thick layer of bedding (coarse wood chips are often considered the gold standard) -- and that same thick layer of bedding would serve the purpose of preventing mud if the coop were on grass.

To prevent digging predators it's best to put in a wire anti-dig skirt around the outside of the coop.

oh right I see. thank you! How often would I have to clear out the bedding

 

[LadiesAndJane]

You can buy a pre-made dog run these are very easy to put together. Maybe check your local resale website and see if anybody’s trying to get rid of one. Sometimes not in the best shape but not too hard to repair in most cases. I bought one as a run for my bantams and covered the whole thing in half inch by half inch 19 gauge hardware cloth, extending the hardware cloth 1 foot out to create the anti-dig apron. I made a roof for it with the same hardware cloth. Then covered half of it with a heavy duty tarp for rain and weather protection. I used 6 inch landscaping cloth staples to attach the hardware cloth into the ground. I used metal zip ties to attach the hardware cloth to the dog run. This has worked very well for me and so far have not had any issues with predators getting in, not even a mouse! 2 inch holes are big enough for some predators to get in depends on what predators you have in your area.

 

[3KillerBs]

oh right I see. thank you! How often would I have to clear out the bedding

I'm a fan of Deep Bedding but there are a number of other management systems. This is my article on it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-deep-bedding-in-a-small-coop.76343/

And here's a discussion thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-deep-bedding-in-a-small-coop.76343/

 

[babychickens321]

You can buy a pre-made dog run these are very easy to put together. Maybe check your local resale website and see if anybody’s trying to get rid of one. Sometimes not in the best shape but not too hard to repair in most cases. I bought one as a run for my bantams and covered the whole thing in half inch by half inch 19 gauge hardware cloth, extending the hardware cloth 1 foot out to create the anti-dig apron. I made a roof for it with the same hardware cloth. Then covered half of it with a heavy duty tarp for rain and weather protection. I used 6 inch landscaping cloth staples to attach the hardware cloth into the ground. I used metal zip ties to attach the hardware cloth to the dog run. This has worked very well for me and so far have not had any issues with predators getting in, not even a mouse! 2 inch holes are big enough for some predators to get in depends on what predators you have in your area.View attachment 2954669View attachment 2954670

thank you so much, ill look at some dog runs, are they big enough for three pekin to spend most of their time in (in the winter at least)

 

[babychickens321]

I'm a fan of Deep Bedding but there are a number of other management systems. This is my article on it: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-deep-bedding-in-a-small-coop.76343/

And here's a discussion thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/using-deep-bedding-in-a-small-coop.76343/

oh thank you ill have a look

 

[3KillerBs]

thank you so much, ill look at some dog runs, are they big enough for three pekin to spend most of their time in (in the winter at least)

You want 10 square feet per bird -- that's just about 1 square meter.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

thank you so much, ill look at some dog runs, are they big enough for three pekin to spend most of their time in (in the winter at least)

They come in different sizes. Nice to have at least 6 ft in height so you can walk in.
Gate needs some modifications to make it predator proof and you will need some support beams to make the roof.
The more room you have the better for each bird, you can get away with 8 sq ft with bantams, but you might also want to account for more chickens in the future.

 

[Krugerrand]

I'm a big fan of the cattle panel run. Check out Blooie's approach:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/motel-chix.67240/

Not only does it look really nice, but it doesn't require framing out, just well placed steel t-posts! (It does require a good bit of hardware cloth to protect from predators.)