Please Help An Idiot Out [My chicken run is a D.I.S.A.S.T.E.R (and my husband hates it)]

[WRVgirl]

Thanks, I haven't done it yet because we live in a almost city type area (no woods very close to us) and our whole yard is fully fenced in already. I'm thinking of making a chicken tractor type fence around the coops, but I don't know. I wish there were more plans online.

 

[kichohana]

I think you did a fantastic job. So what if it's not pretty - it's not going to be on a parade of homes tour!

I'm thinking that your walls are just sitting on the ground? Maybe to brace the "walls" you could hammer some wood stakes into the ground and then attach/screw them to your upright walls? It would better if you could make your own stakes out of pressure treated lumber so it won't rot in the ground, but the store-bought wood stakes will work for a few years. Something like this:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_4005-152-NA...0&Ntt=wood+stakes&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=

Another option are rebar stakes and attach them with pipe clamps. Once you secure/brace the walls your gate would be much sturdier.

I think you're fine in the predator-proof area as I can see that your yard is fenced. I have my coop and run in my fenced yard and have no problems with predators - and I live out in the country with woods behind me. I know there are raccoons, foxes and possums around, but none have yet made their way into my yard. I do not have any kind of netting over my run, but I do have shade cloth over half my run.

 

[RonC]

I've tried building out of 2x2 and never had much luck. Just not enough wood there to attach. Run some braces diagonally across the corners and diagonally across the side sections will stiffen it up considerably. You could also build a new frame out of electrical PVC for not a whole lot of money and reuse the netting. Don't use the white PVC as it's not UV resistant and will break down more quickly.

 

[KnoxvilleChick]

The bracing gg706 talked about will really help with the stability. Make sure you put 2 screws in at each end so it can't rack (wobble). I don't think it's an eyesore, but if your husband does, then ask him to fix it!

Seriously though, a dark stain, and maybe some landscaping around the outside (provided you either don't free range or you can keep your chickens out of your new plantings) can do a lot to improve the look of any enclosure. You could even grow some plants that you and/or your chickens can eat. Good luck!

 

[BGinVA]

I don't think it is a terrible eye sore either, you did good, but I'm also kind of like your husband and need the coop to fit into our landscaped backyard that leads to our pool. I agree that it needs some cross bracing, and you need to get the gate leveled with the rest of the run. I personally would paint the run boards to match the coop, I would add some cross bracing, and I'd take a shovel and a level and dig out just enough dirt where needed to make it level, then I'd add some plantings around the outside perimeter that your family and the chickens could both enjoy, like maybe some blueberry bushes. Good luck and GOOD WORK doing it on your own!

 

[cluck-cluck]

Well, just my 2 cents.... I think it looks great and if it does the job by containing the chickens in an area of the backyard dedicated to them, then I think it's perfect! Your back yard is very pretty and I love the coop, it looks like a tree house!

 

[WRVgirl]

Oh THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH.

I feel so much better. I never thought that it was that ugly of an enclosure and I was really butthurt that the DH didn't agree.

I think I'm going to try to improve on this fence, even though I dread the amount of work it's going to be. lol.

 

[zengrrl]

I thnk you did a great job, I'm trying to get a vision in my mind of a pen and this gives me great ideas.

 

[blueyzjg]

First I don't think it looks that bad!! Get your hubby and go to the local Home Depot and ask him to pick up the things he will need to fix it up and look better. hee hee Jackie

 

[amorrill]

Oh THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH.

I feel so much better. I never thought that it was that ugly of an enclosure and I was really butthurt that the DH didn't agree.

I think I'm going to try to improve on this fence, even though I dread the amount of work it's going to be. lol.

I don't think that was very nice of him to say either. It looks fine, and you obviously worked hard. I can't build a thing!