Runner. Round/square/rectangle?

[Magenta_Chick]

My husband is an engineer (lucky me! comes in handy when building coops!) Anywhoo, I really wanted a square or rectangle runner, bc I think they look better. But he figured that if we made the runner round (or octogon shaped) we can give the the same sq ft by only using half the materials! (hes so smart!!!)

I was wondering if there were any cons to having a round vs square runner?

 

[patandchickens]

You mean for the run, i.e. the outdoor fenced area where the chickens can hang out?

It is certainly true that for a given length of fencing, you enclose the most area by making it a circle (or circle-oid figure that incorporates the coop=henhouse as part of it).

HOWEVER it is much, much more difficult to build a really STRONG circular fence, so unless you are ok with it being fairly wibbly and unbraced, round is not an easy option. Ditto for octagonal. Not that they can't be done but to do them right is a PITA with a bunch of angle cuts to your horizontal fence lumber. Also it makes it harder to put a top on the run if you should ever wish to do that, and is a bit more wasteful of material if you do a wire apron for digproofing.

So, a square is usually the best compromise between perimeter-to-area ratio versus ease of construction.

Except that if you want to put a strongly-supported roof on, it may be better to do a rectangle because even though it makes less-economical use of your fencing material, it enables you to have a narrower span to the rafter-type thingies you are supporting your roof or wire top with.

Therefore I would say that the most correct answer would be "it depends what you're trying to do"

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

My husband is an engineer

Engineer:
A person who can sit at a desk and design something wonderful ON PAPER that's nearly impossible to build

A square fence takes the least material, and is much easier to build​

 

[mommto3kiddos]

We were going with a rectangle shaped run at first, but after buying materials we realized that a square pen was more bang for our buck, persay!

I don't think I would like a round or octagon shaped one. Plus I agree with the PP, a round pen would seem hard to make "strong"..

But would LOVE to see pics of what you decide!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Engineer:
A person who can sit at a desk and design something wonderful ON PAPER that's nearly impossible to build

A square fence takes the least material, and is much easier to build

Round is actually the most efficeint wire wise, to achieve the same square footage. Not easier to build and definately takes more posts.

35.44 linear feet to create a round fence containing 100 square feet
40.00 linear feet to create a square fence containing 100 square feet

And yes I did the math starting with 100 square feet Not half the materials. More like seven eighths. Keeping it round will be difficult, doing an octogon would be cool looking the more facits the more it approaches the 35.44 linear foot dimension. The more facits the more support structure will be needed. it becomes a trade off. There becomes a point where efficiency in one direction creates waste in another.

I would go with square or rectangular because it suits my space needs outside the run.

Im a manufacturing engineer on occasion. I take engineers ideas and make them work, by working with them. Depending on who hires me for what job.