Show me your coop runs!

[CCUK]

My husband and son built a shed for the coop with a steel door and deadbolt,View attachment 1287379 View attachment 1287381 and I personally built the run. Hard to see because of the oak trees. It was costly, but we have fox, coyote, dogs and bears. We lost our flock of 17 chickens (only two hens survived) last October and it was important to have a safe nighttime coop.

I like the chair! Everybody has to have one!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chair-by-the-chicken-coop-club.1207488/

 

[junkman56]

here is our coop and run, the run is 48 ft. x 20 ft. the original run is 16 ft. x 6 ft. it is completely sealed off with hardware cloth to keep out the critters. on the new run, we plan on cementing 4x4 post in the ground to put up 2"x2" no climb fence and the bird netting. I through this together to protect my chickens from the hawks that been hanging around, now I am just waiting for a weather change to finish. 7 more baby chicks coming in April, so I have to expand the coop also.

 

[tigger19687]

@junkman56 That looks like the same Netting I have.
I would fix it so that you can TAKE IT OFF if you get a Winter wet snow storm like I just got last night

I was hoping this would work till Spring when I was going to change it to the Plastic netting that will be easier to take off.
I was planning on having wood along the tops of the posts so that netting can "hook" onto that.
Then if s storm was coming I could take it off for the storm and then attach after.

 

[aart]

a Winter wet snow storm like I just got last night

OyVey!!!
BTDT.
Looks like most if it stayed up, just need to reinforce the end part.

 

[junkman56]

@junkman56 That looks like the same Netting I have.
I would fix it so that you can TAKE IT OFF if you get a Winter wet snow storm like I just got last night

View attachment 1288072 I was hoping this would work till Spring when I was going to change it to the Plastic netting that will be easier to take off.
I was planning on having wood along the tops of the posts so that netting can "hook" onto that.
Then if s storm was coming I could take it off for the storm and then attach after.

I do not want to have to remove it, the run is to large to take it off and put it back on every heavy snow storm we get. right now it is up with climbing rope, and it held up to a couple wet snow falls we had. when I re-do it, I plan to use wire attached to the tops of 4x4's that go around the perimeter of the run, and then attach wire to the 10' center post then go out to each 4x4 on the perimeter. I think that will hold it up if we get any more heavy snow falls. the net is secured to the fence with zip ties. I hope this will hold up.
thanks

 

[tigger19687]

@aart The end was just draped over, I was not expecting that much weight in snow.
They didn't say it was going to be wet snow OR that much.
The part that stayed was the carport frame section.
Which to be honest I am surprised that it didn't break due to the weight.
I was hoping this would due till Spring when I would get wire like you have.

 

[junkman56]

@aart The end was just draped over, I was not expecting that much weight in snow.
They didn't say it was going to be wet snow OR that much.
The part that stayed was the carport frame section.
Which to be honest I am surprised that it didn't break due to the weight.
I was hoping this would due till Spring when I would get wire like you have.

I hope you can get it fixed before another snow comes, I don't think winters going to let up anytime soon. my run is to large to cover with all wire, so I had to go with the netting. it seemed to hold up to the wet snow we got yesterday

 

[tigger19687]

You must not have gotten as much as we did.

I did the same thing, but with Ice and heavy wet snow with this storm, it was not a good mix.
I figured I might be able to get away with it this winter.... almost made it . Next storm I will wake up in the night to bump off snow

I had the carport frame already, and an extra carport top cover so I may just use that for the rest of this year and just the net on that end part (after I fix the fence ).

Look at @aart pages. They have a run that is really nice and solid. I will be doing this when I (if I ) find a nice farm.

After a storm sometimes you can find these frames for free on CL.

 

[Bobby Basham]

My run is composed of Four 8x8' squares, with the lower right quadrant split in half for my chicken observation deck. I'll stick a fold-up chair in the run when I feel sociable. The upper left quadrant (center in the first pic) is reserved for a 6x6' coop.

The whole ordeal is only 5 feet tall, but since I'm short, that's no big issue...

The top, sides and bottom will be enclosed with 1/4-inch hardware cloth extending out about 18-inches from the bottom, and I also have a 12x20' tarp that will only leave the observation deck and a 4x8' area behind that spool exposed. This will hopefully keep out wild birds and (hopefully most small mammals) that can't squeeze in the small gap around in the gate. The 4x5' gate will be immediately left of the observation deck.

Right where that spool is standing, there will be a drop down door/chute where I can throw in some treats if I don't feel like going into the run. Also thinking about putting planter boxes/beds running the perimeter to hide the hardware cloth and plant some veggies.

I am assembling the coop in the garage from scratch, only to disassemble it and reconstruct it in the run. The bottom will be completely stapled with the hardware cloth to deter any underground digging critters, and covered with plenty of dirt and bedding. It will sit on four of those red pavers and a bed of gravel. There should be about to 180 sq.ft. of run space for 9 hens and plan on having enough deep bedding to hid those lower floor beams.

The whole thing is low because I live in an H.O.A. (Home Owners' Assassination). --BB

 

[tigger19687]

What about a Roof to cover from that Hot Hot sun?