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

[Cutie Clucker]

Forgot to mention I paid my son and his handy friend to build it.

The second picture just shows how high the coop sits. We had a crazy monsoon rain storm that flooded the run, so that’s why it’s full of water. The water bucket and feed bucket are off the ground so nothing was ruined and the hens still had access to food and water. Our soil is like clay so it took about 2-3 hours to drain.

 

[WTCH Ho Dog]

I also just don’t want to spend a fortune on lumber and wire etc.

Hi sweetie, and here’s where to start - Craigslist. We built our original tractor with a rolling base that was in perfect shape that we got for $50, then helped tear down an old barn for the wood (basically free), found plenty of hardware and the wire at a farm auction for $15.

 

[Aunt Angus]

For my chickens we bought a 20 by 30 dog kennel on Craigslist for 200 bucks covered with hardware cloth and had a peak roof put on and have heavy thick clear plastic around all the sides and back that we can roll up with attached velcro for summer and nice days roll down for bad weather cold days in winter we put straw bales around the outside walls to block wind help keep it warmer

I did almost the same thing. Mine's not quite as large, though. You scored a great deal! I've moved twice and brought that with me every time. And mine holds snow pretty well.

 

[bjdewell]

This may be out of your budget, but Omlet Walk in runs are pretty easy to build and the green wire blends in well with surroundings. You would probably want to cover the bottom 3-4 ft with HWC (depending on predators in your area + your comfort level). I have a 9x9 one and built it almost entirely by myself over the span of a couple of days (couple hours of work each day). My elementary age kids helped me when I just needed an extra set of hands. Their runs are expandable too, so if you ever want something larger, you just buy more panels. Biggest benefit is there's no skill required to build them, just a bit of patience. Worth pricing out your different options and see if this would work.

I haven't researched the cost of building a run/coop out of wood, but the supply lists I see here in BYC look long and expensive. And as a 77-year-old woman, I'd never try to build one. I already have a small coop with an attached run that would fit really well in one of these 9x9 Walk in runs. Plus, I could put it together myself. My four 9-month-old pullets free-range, so this kind of set-up would be perfect when the temps in our high desert climate are super hot, or when the monsoons come and we have big winds and rain. Perfect for any climate, it seems! Thanks for this tip, I just might purchase one in the spring!

 

[AnnPann]

I haven't researched the cost of building a run/coop out of wood, but the supply lists I see here in BYC look long and expensive. And as a 77-year-old woman, I'd never try to build one. I already have a small coop with an attached run that would fit really well in one of these 9x9 Walk in runs. Plus, I could put it together myself. My four 9-month-old pullets free-range, so this kind of set-up would be perfect when the temps in our high desert climate are super hot, or when the monsoons come and we have big winds and rain. Perfect for any climate, it seems! Thanks for this tip, I just might purchase one in the spring!

If you go the Omlet route, and have a lot of wind, be sure to anchor it to the ground. Ground stakes + ratchet straps work great for this- my run stayed put in 75MPH winds.

 

[Se7en]

I also just don’t want to spend a fortune on lumber and wire etc.

At this time lumber is expensive but can you find a place that sells reclaimed lumber in your area? We bought our cloth for the run from Amazon and it is great. We paid a little over one hundred dollars and our run is 12x16. Check if there is a neighborhood app in your area and see if anyone is getting rid of any materials you need. You would be surprised what people are throwing out.

 

[Emily_loveschickens]

Update: we have almost finished the run! There are a few things I did differently such as no overhangs since I am going to be doing the tarp and the tarp would not sit flat with overhangs. we have painted the run and I did not do 4 x 4‘s for the posts since they were not in stock at our lumber store.
Please don’t tell me about things I should’ve done like overhangs etc. i’m happy with how it has turned out.

 

[Emily_loveschickens]

Just spent $87 on HWC

 

[Emily_loveschickens]

Just spent $87 on HWC

Ended up returning the $87 25 foot roll at Home Depot and I am getting twice the amount for the same price on Amazon

 

[Se7en]

Update: we have almost finished the run! There are a few things I did differently such as no overhangs since I am going to be doing the tarp and the tarp would not sit flat with overhangs. we have painted the run and I did not do 4 x 4‘s for the posts since they were not in stock at our lumber store.
Please don’t tell me about things I should’ve done like overhangs etc. i’m happy with how it has turned out.

This looks really great.