Octagonal Run and Coop

[Paul Martinek]

We just completed this suburban octagonal run and coop. Total cost of materials was $750. Labor was free...since I built it. If you'd like to build something similar, you can contact me to find out the problems I overcame.

 

[bigmrg74]

How big are the sides of the run? I'm guessing about 4 feet and you had to get the 4 foot wide hardware cloth.

 

[aart]

Nice!

What is the roof material?

Where are you located?

 

[Paul Martinek]

Yes, 4'-0". The sides are 5'-0" high and the center point is 8'-0" high.

 

[Going Quackers]

wow, that is something! very unique. Nicely done.

 

[Paul Martinek]

The roofing material is metal screen for a number of reasons:

1) It's all that's necessary to keep the girls from flying over the fencing (we don't clip their wings)
2) It's easier to work with than hardware cloth since it can be cut with scissors
3) The mesh is fine enough to keep the debris from the adjacent pine tree out of the run
4) It's far less expensive than hardware cloth
5) It's lighter than hardware cloth

We're located in Oregon.

 

[Paul Martinek]

Thank you!

 

[aart]

The roofing material is metal screen for a number of reasons:

1) It's all that's necessary to keep the girls from flying over the fencing (we don't clip their wings)
2) It's easier to work with than hardware cloth since it can be cut with scissors
3) The mesh is fine enough to keep the debris from the adjacent pine tree out of the run
4) It's far less expensive than hardware cloth
5) It's lighter than hardware cloth

We're located in Oregon.

Makes sense!
Looks like you're well covered for shade from the nearby large tree.
Any concerns with excessive rainfall? Know some places, tho not all, in Oregon get alot.
Could be an issue with crowding/space availability if run is not comfortable during rainfall, as your coop is rather small.

 

[bigmrg74]

The roofing material is metal screen for a number of reasons:

1) It's all that's necessary to keep the girls from flying over the fencing (we don't clip their wings)
2) It's easier to work with than hardware cloth since it can be cut with scissors
3) The mesh is fine enough to keep the debris from the adjacent pine tree out of the run
4) It's far less expensive than hardware cloth
5) It's lighter than hardware cloth

We're located in Oregon.

I would still worry about something like raccoon's figuring out that weak spot in that coops armor. Maybe you should have used some chicken wire along with the screening? That way they can only rip thru the screening so far. I know you would want to go with something easier to work with than the hardwire cloth, especially with all of those odd angles you would have there on the roof.

 

[Paul Martinek]

Yeah, I'm resigned to the fact that I may have to replace the screen with hardware cloth. In the meantime, a motion detector with alarm will have to suffice. Thanks for the heads up though.