Octagonal Run and Coop

[Bayou Lena]

Very nicely done!

 

[6of6chicks]

That's very pretty! I love the design - it looks like the gorgeous aviaries you see at the zoo. Lucky chickens!

What did you use for the flooring (it's hard to tell from the pics). Is the dark side dirt for dust bathing? I'm just curious - I'm getting ready to renovate part of my run to include a boxed dust bath area, so I'm just checking out how others did it in their runs.

I second the hardware cloth on the roof. I just watched some scary raccoon videos from another thread and I had NO idea how clever, determined, and strong they are.

 

[Paul Martinek]

Thanks for the compliment...

The run/coop is set on a concrete pad that the previous home owners installed, probably for a hot tub. We purchase pine shavings (+$7.50 a bag) and it goes a long way. 1-1/2 bags will cover the area about 4" deep. By the way, do not use cedar shavings. I was told by the farm store that cedar shavings will harm the chickens and eventually kill them.

Last year I bought cheap garden soil and when I watered the garden the water pooled on top of the dusty soil (I've since stopped being so tight and bought Miracle Grow soil for the garden). So, when we built the coop I thought about that cheap, dusty soil and that it would be perfect for the girls (Blanch, Molly & Amber) for dust baths and it's proved to be. They bury themselves in it and seem to love it.

I know I have to replace the roof screen with hardware cloth but I'm postponing doing that. To be honest, I'm tired of working on the project and need to focus on other priorities, e.g. building a deck railing. A motion sensor and alarm will have to suffice for now. I'll replace the screen roof with hardware cloth in the fall, when the racoons here (Oregon) are more active. You are right about racoons though. We watched a show about them on PBS and they can somehow disconnect their vertebrae to bend their bodies and squeeze into very small openings. They're pretty intelligent animals.

As an aside. The coop is insulated and has a recessed heat lamp installed that can be switched on from our kitchen. There is also a wireless thermometer installed so we can read the temperature inside the coop from our living room. Last winter we got down to -20F so I want to make certain the girls are cozy this winter.

Best of luck with your coop renovations and if you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Paul

 

[hitchyourwagon]

Very unique design. The run octogon very pleasing to the eye so makes a nice yard feature. This eight sided structure reminds me of the traditional Navajo building called a hogan. A chicken hogan, why not? Nice work.

 

[aart]

Nice!

What is the roof material?

Where are you located?

Paul Martinek
Yesterday at 9:01 am
Yes, rain is an issue in Oregon. The coop is 4'-0" x 4'-0", so they have the shelter under it where they feed. This year, when the monsoons begin, we'll use a 12'-0" square tarp suspended over the run. Next year I'll fabricate 1/8" thick pie shaped sections for the roof that will be easily installed or removed, so we can choose which sections are protected; all of them or selected ones.

 

[memphis]

Well done!

 

[Paul Martinek]

A hogan, eh? Here in Oregon it's been likened to a Yurt.

 

[skunknchatter]

So... if i were to be a big fat copy cat and build a run like this would you be offended? My current run is chain link dog kennel panels with chicken wire and bailing twine on top. Not quite the "eye candy" that your design is.

As a note about raccoons. We have them in droves and they do like chicken. My flimsy chicken wire top does nothing to keep them out. BUT, if i lock the chickens in the hen house every night then the raccoons seem to lose all interest. So, what I'm trying to say is, if you lock the girls up at dusk you may not attract raccoons and that screen on top might last quite a while.

Thanks for sharing your fun design. There may be one in Utah soon

 

[Paul Martinek]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I would be complimented if others thought well enough of my design to duplicate it. Estimate about $750 for materials. Thanks for the heads up on locking the girls up at night. I think I'll do that from now on. I'd love to not have to climb up there and replace all that screen with hardware cloth. It wasn't fun the 1st time. I don't think it's going to be any more fun the 2nd time around. You should have heard the language during the roof installation. The paint was melting on the side of the house.

 

[Eudyptula]

It is lovely! Well done