Should I build a new run???!!!

[Emily_loveschickens]

Hey,
I have six chickens and my current run is about 2 feet off the ground. It is not convenient because I cannot go into the run and I have had about enough of with it. I think I want to make the run so I can go in it not too tall but tall enough to where it’s OK if I bend down a little but I can get into it. I am 5’8” so it wouldn’t need to be too tall but pretty tall. Does anyone have any plans for a run that looks nice because we live in a residential area and I would not want it looking like an eyesore but also functional? Thank you so much!

 

[perkolator]

While you can make it any dimension you want, I would still consider basing it off standard dimensions of materials. That 5ft height for example only makes sense to me if using 10ft lumber and cutting in half; for fencing you'd be short with a 48" tall roll if going horizontal, or perhaps end up overlapping quite a bit with other sizes. Hope this makes sense

 

[DickMidnight]

Does anyone have any plans for a run that looks nice because we live in a residential area and I would not want it looking like an eyesore but also functional?

yes.

16x8 all enclosed and fully roofed with a slanted roof.

this was taken in the winter, but now the grass has grown back in around the excavation site and it looks great.

i also won’t tolerate an eyesore in my yard.

 

[3KillerBs]

Do you Think a slanted roof if necessary where I live? I live in northeastern Colorado. we get a decent amount of snow but not too much.

Yes. Snow load is very likely to collapse a flat roof. I don't even like the flat roof on my brooder in this climate (I didn't built it, I was given the structure).

Here is a photo from the internet showing how, in general, you'd frame a single-sloped roof:

Basically, you just build the one wall higher than the other and run the roof supports on a slant.

Use hurricane ties instead of trying to cut bird's mouth joints for the rafters because cutting the bird's mouth joints is hard.

Metal roof installed on purlins is the easiest roof to use, IMO. Polycarbonate panels might be equally easy, I have not experience with them.

 

[aart]

if anyone is really good at drawing sketches and measurements please please help me out!

Get some graph paper....learning to draw the thing you want to build will make it easier to build. May take longer than just this week to get ready to build.

 

[Emily_loveschickens]

We finished the run a few weeks ago and moved it a few days ago. I’m really happy with it. It gives my chickens much more space since we have five and it is enough space for six.

 

[3KillerBs]

I found a plan online that’s exactly 8 x 8 and I am not going to do a slanted roof. How much would a project like this cost? Hard wire cloth and chicken wire is so expensive!

If there is any chance that you'll ever want to put an actual roof on it -- maybe so you don't have to shovel it after ever snowfall? -- you will want it slanted so that precipitation runs off to the extent possible. Flat roofs have to be very well reinforced so that they don't collapse under snow load.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Lumber near us is actually going back down by a lot. A year ago a 2x4x8 was $9.97. Last weekend it was back down to $3.98.

For a new to construction person a hoop run is likely the easiest.
Just 2 cattle panels will make an 8x8 run. They run around $30 each here. Of course they would need covered with wire that has smaller openings.

This is worth looking at.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/top-10-hoop-coop-ideas.76490/

 

[21hens-incharge]

On our non hoop runs we set posts in cement and the 2x4's (we used 2x6's on the bottom) are to the outside of the posts.
My bantam coop while in process. I think you can see how we did the posts, 2x4's and roof in this picture.

 

[AnnPann]

here is a plan that sounds similar to what you are after: https://www.thegardencoop.com/product/chicken-run-pergola-plans/

you have to pay for the plan (not very much), but if it’s anything like his coop plans, it’s VERY thorough and easy to understand. having a set of detailed plans like this will probably save you more in mistakes and guesswork and headaches than you spend on the plan.