Open air run in lieu of coop

[JRM]

I currently house my chickens in an open air run. It consists of two 10X10X6 foot chainlink dog runs. The top consists of cattle panels & tarps. It is oriented east to west, with the long
sides facing north & south. There are no solid walls. In the winter, I wrap it with clear plastic. While it has served my chickens fairly well, it is imperfect & has its challenges. After several years, I have decided it's time to have a more permanent structure built.
But now, here's my quandary: I'm so afraid I'm going to make a design mistake! I don't want to spend my money only to come to the realization that I've made some major mistake. I really like this open run design. There is lots of airflow. The chickens have roosts, a dust bath, & a nesting area - all enclosed in this area. They free range often.
My thought is basically a pole building with a solid roof. The chainlink panels will be attached to the posts. I like the woods open coop design, but this will not have a coop - just the open run. I have read that, ideally, an open air COOP should be oriented with the short end facing the south. However, since this will be a RUN, will the orientation matter? Also, we were considering a sloped roof, angled to the south. Would this be an appropriate design to allow for the best airflow summer & winter? Or does it need to be angled down to the north? Or would a peaked roof be better? How much should the eave extend?
Is there someone with good knowledge of aerodynamics/ventilation &/or experience that could help me plan this run? I'm so ready for a solid roof over their heads - I just want to get it right!
Thanks!

 

[Rob Tof]

Trust in your self. I have only been into chickens for a few months. I love it I'm out in the yard all the time. I went from couch potato to doing something every night after work. I have learned so much in a very short time. My wife says I went from boob tube to chicken tube.

 

[Rob Tof]

Post your designs here before you build and ask for advice about your design. If it's got room to improve I'm sure members would help improve your designs

 

[JRM]

How do I upload pics from my phone's gallery?

 

[JRM]

Something akin to these examples.

 

[RUNuts]

I think you are overthinking. Return to the basics. The chickens need shade and shelter.

Everything you mentioned should provide for the chickens. It sounds like a nice setup.

 

[Rob Tof]

As Runuts said don't over think it. The basics are key. Chickens need shade , shelter from elements. So they feel safe. Good food and clean water, soft place to lay eggs.
Not all coops are for everyone. I for one would hate one of the tractor ones to hard to clean. My first version was a coop that was made out of a kids play house but was only about 4 foot tall. Getting in was bad cleaning was worse. After 2 weeks I blew off the portch and made it taller it started life as a 4x4x4 and ended up 8L x 7h x 6w. Why did I change it not for the chickens to make my life easier. Though the chickens do like the coop more. If I had to do it again I would put a coop human door so I don't have to walk threw there pen. Poop on the shoe sucks. I use a old pair of sneakers only for walking out to the chickens. I cut the backs off so the slip on and off. Coop and run building costs money. For 6-8 chickens if you had to buy all the wood and hardwear mesh.1000$-1500$. I reused a kids play house I bought off Craigslist for 100$ for my run I used my kids old trampoline. Two roles of wire 100$ each. 4 sheets of ply 38$ each. Lumber 50-60$ paint primer20$ paint 10$ a few water founts 60$ chicken feeders 2 made from pvc and one like the faunts made out of metal.40$ I got into this hobby to get free eggs. There not free. I spend lots of time with my chickens. Though I do enjoy them a whole lot and bonus my kids help and the wife too. I used building my coop as therapy for my shoulder surgery. Rotator Cuff surgery hurts to recover from. Bonus my soon to be going away to collage daughter has helped with the build we have spent a lot of time together doing the build which I have cherished. Memory's for a life time. (Priceless) I'm the type that don't ask for help I'm normally the one helping. With my shoulder hurt it's very humbling needing to ask for help. Funny thing is friends and family lined up to help. I take great pride in knowing I always help friends and family and never expect any thing back but it warms my heart that people jumped at the chance to help. All I needed was to ask.

 

[JRM]

Oh, yes, Rob. I know exactly what you mean about people-size. My flock went from a cute little coop bought at the local feed store, to my kids' repurposed fort/swingset, to a 10x10 chainlink dog run, to an added 10x10 run (to make it a 10x20 run), to now having to add on again (another 10x10 section). People-size chicken dwellings makes things a WHOLE lot more convenient! I have repurposed many things around here to accommodate my flock's needs. After doing this for 5+ yrs, my "hobby" hasn't diminished. Indeed, it has grown. And given that I just doubled my flock again (now numbering at 25), I figured I had demonstrated this was not just a passing fancy & that I earned the more solid upgrade. I was also tired of combating the elements with my make-do Texas Aggie ingenuity & "creative engineering." I saved up some money to do it right. And you're right - it ain't cheap ($2,000+).
I don't think I'm going crazy with my design - basically a pole building, nothing fancy. Very utilitarian. But it should do fine in our elements here, withstanding wind, the occasional snowmegeddon, & the blue blazes of summer. I am reusing the chainlink panels in between the posts, so that will save me some $$. My only concern is which way to orient the structure to maximize natural ventilation & the sun's energy. It will have a sloped roof. I think I'm going to set the structure in roughly an east-west direction, with the tall side facing southish & the short side facing northish. Like I mentioned, I don't want to spend all this hard-saved money, just to discover I should have oriented it differently or angled the roof the opposite way. Cuz it ain't going nowhere once it's built! Good ventilation in all seasons is key & that's what I'm after.
It's lovely you've had the experience with friends & family in assisting you. And you're right - that time with your daughter is priceless! They are grown & gone before you know it. Can't believe my oldest just turned 30!
Thanks for your comments. I'm glad to have the opportunity to learn from others & share our interests, knowledge, & experience.

 

[Rob Tof]

Oh, yes, Rob. I know exactly what you mean about people-size. My flock went from a cute little coop bought at the local feed store, to my kids' repurposed fort/swingset, to a 10x10 chainlink dog run, to an added 10x10 run (to make it a 10x20 run), to now having to add on again (another 10x10 section). People-size chicken dwellings makes things a WHOLE lot more convenient! I have repurposed many things around here to accommodate my flock's needs. After doing this for 5+ yrs, my "hobby" hasn't diminished. Indeed, it has grown. And given that I just doubled my flock again (now numbering at 25), I figured I had demonstrated this was not just a passing fancy & that I earned the more solid upgrade. I was also tired of combating the elements with my make-do Texas Aggie ingenuity & "creative engineering." I saved up some money to do it right. And you're right - it ain't cheap ($2,000+).
I don't think I'm going crazy with my design - basically a pole building, nothing fancy. Very utilitarian. But it should do fine in our elements here, withstanding wind, the occasional snowmegeddon, & the blue blazes of summer. I am reusing the chainlink panels in between the posts, so that will save me some $$. My only concern is which way to orient the structure to maximize natural ventilation & the sun's energy. It will have a sloped roof. I think I'm going to set the structure in roughly an east-west direction, with the tall side facing southish & the short side facing northish. Like I mentioned, I don't want to spend all this hard-saved money, just to discover I should have oriented it differently or angled the roof the opposite way. Cuz it ain't going nowhere once it's built! Good ventilation in all seasons is key & that's what I'm after.
It's lovely you've had the experience with friends & family in assisting you. And you're right - that time with your daughter is priceless! They are grown & gone before you know it. Can't believe my oldest just turned 30!
Thanks for your comments. I'm glad to have the opportunity to learn from others & share our interests, knowledge, & experience.

Do you eat the older hens? I know I'm a few years away but I plan to eat mine when they stop laying or really slow down. My plan is next year to get 8 more to make 16. And the following year 8 more and eat the 8 from my first year.

 

[JRM]

Do you eat the older hens? I know I'm a few years away but I plan to eat mine when they stop laying or really slow down. My plan is next year to get 8 more to make 16. And the following year 8 more and eat the 8 from my first year.

I haven't yet. Everyone's still laying. They must be content in their current digs! But my old rooster .......... hmmmm, we'll see. He is NOT nice - to my hens or me! But I think I'd have to slowcook him for a LONNGG time!