At X-mas time Home Depot and Lowe's set up a tree coral for the sale of tree's, but after xmas is over they sell the fencing they use dirt cheap. It's a great start for an outdoor run. We wrap smaller chicken wire under and around and on top of course but a few 8' metal fence posts (we used the kind you can hammer right into the ground) and you have a pen. I used the fencing and wire for the roof over the pen as well. I made sure to leave the roof pretty loose so I could use a longer post in the center, kind of like how a circus tent is assembled. Instead of a posts in the center I ended up using those unsightly tubular steel T shaped posts for hanging close outside in the yard, which I am not a fan of. I used 2 white vinyl signs over the top to create a roof, the kind you would see outside a club or store for advertising usually hung up in the windows. It's thicker and more durable than a tarp but easier to manipulate than corrugated plastic. I also converted and old dresser that had draws that were to shallow into a coop. I also had a nightstand that was way short so I hollowed it out and attached it to the side of the dresser/coop as a nesting box. It took some engineering because I wanted them to still look some what like what they were but somewhat "French Country-ish".
Now as for feeding them I totally went and bought a metal 3 gal feeder for $30.... Totally wasted my money. It wasn't big enough to feed all my girls so they would get a little feisty at the feeder, had to create another, sure wasn't going to spend another $30 on something inefficient either. so I used the Family sized P.B. jar plastic of course and a dog frisby. Their water is the old 5 gallon bucket and plant coaster method, doesn't freeze here either.
You've got some great ideas here!!
