Run Rebuild

[Justicedog]

I've got to redo my chicken's run. It's rotting and needs it. I'd used some landscape timber for around the bottom as I'd already had it, so that was really what predetermined the size. It is roughly 9' 1" across the front, not counting the coop, 8' 6" along the non-coop side, 15'8" along the back and then about 4' back to the back of the coop. I'm pretty sure I used regular 2x4s and covered them with linseed oil, or stained them. I don't believe I used pressure treated wood as I thought it would harm the chickens. Most everything is chicken wire, which is now rusty. It's been reinforced with plastic snow fencing type fence I had. There's about a foot of chicken wire buried around the perimeter.

I have a dutch door for my entry into the run, which I want to copy. I am going to uses pressure treated wood. I'm going to skirt it with 1/2" or 1" hardware cloth. The bottom, maybe 2 -4 feet will be 1/2" or 1" hardware cloth. Then the fencing on top will have bigger holes, less expensive -- hopefully. I'm not sure how large I can go without risking them. 2"x3" or 2"x4".

I plan to put a nailing board in between the top and bottom. The bottom will be the landscape tinder that is already there. I'll attach posts to that.

Now, my biggest thing is I want a roof. I'm thinking the corrugated plastic. I wasn't exactly sure how to do it as the enclosure is oddly shaped and the easiest way would be to just make it slanting toward the back, but that wouldn't match the coop's roof line. I do want to be able to walk inside the run.


I'm in Maryland, we get snow (usually about 8" most at one time) and rain.

Does anyone have any suggestions, warnings or thoughts on this plan?

 

[Oak Pond SC]

Looks like you have a great base to start with! I like the large chicken house and the yard has good space. We too, are expanding and added another run. We've only ever used 1/4 " hardware cloth due to snake issues. It's more expensive but worth the investment. I purchased a 100' roll of 36" that covered our entire 8X6 run with wire to spare. I like your roof idea. I'm in the south and summer can get scorching hot, breaks down plastic over time and makes it brittle so we used metal for the roof. I think in Maryland, you will do just fine with plastic for the roof and it should last you a good long time. Happy building!

 

[Malkaris]

How many chickens do you have btw?

 

[Justicedog]

How many chickens do you have btw?

I have 4 old ones and 5 chicks.

 

[Malkaris]

I have 4 old ones and 5 chicks.

I would go with 1/2" hardware cloth where you can. Price is an understandable factor though - look for sales, I didn't get the best sale, but still quite a discount. It's heavier than 1/4 but not as annoying to work with as heavier stuff can be, and weasels can't get through. I did put other stuff on the roof though. My sides might be overkill...

As you've had your birds for a while without issue (I'm assuming?) it certainly looks like a good plan for 9 birds (over 100 square feet... I tried to math but it's late). Mine had I think over 80 square feet for 5 birds and I need to expand but there were other factors involved in their issues.

 

[Justicedog]

Thanks for all the responses. I appreciate it. I've got no construction experience or background. I'd planned on things, then I started pricing out the lumber. Dang, wood is expensive. I got major sticker shock. An acquaintance, who is a contractor said that since covid and people are improving their homes and there's a slow down that boards that used to be $4 are now $8. That $400 dog kennel doesn't look so unreasonable now.

 

[3KillerBs]

An acquaintance, who is a contractor said that since covid and people are improving their homes and there's a slow down that boards that used to be $4 are now $8.

Yes, I wish I had known to buy stock in home improvement stores at this time last year.

 

[Malkaris]

Thanks for all the responses. I appreciate it. I've got no construction experience or background. I'd planned on things, then I started pricing out the lumber. Dang, wood is expensive. I got major sticker shock. An acquaintance, who is a contractor said that since covid and people are improving their homes and there's a slow down that boards that used to be $4 are now $8. That $400 dog kennel doesn't look so unreasonable now.

There are challenges and risks (weather and strength etc etc.) to this idea but greenhouses have gone on sale recently and I bought one. You know the metal frame things? I have hardware cloth but as you mention - lumber prices are insane. So I'm putting one together that's almost 200 square feet. I can get lumber and stuff to reinforce it if needed. But at least for the summer I'm going to try wrapping it in hardware cloth (and naturally omitting the cover). The sale price was good enough that it's worth a test. Though in retrospect I don't know if the metal is galvanized...

Edit - I should mention I was going to go for one of those even heavier duty carport ones, and I'm kicking myself for not getting one cheap due to a damaged package. But the bars on some of the "greenhouses" particularly the horizontal ones, seemed to lend themselves to supporting mesh in at least 3 rows.

 

[springvalley123]

If you do go the dog kennel route, make sure it accepts a top (the peaked roof top that is for a dog kennel run). And put the top on, add fencing material to it. You might also get a walk-in chicken run as a starting point. I think the framing on that is sturdier than most green houses. Even after replacing the chicken wire with hardware cloth on the sides, adding an apron, and putting 2x4 wire fencing on the top, you might come out ahead. I know someone near me who had at least 8 inches of snow and it held up.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/ALEKO-Metal-Walk-in-Chicken-Run-CKR10X20BL-HD/305959952