Show Me Your RUN!

[Bantam Bodon]

Thats looking real good! Looks like they love it too.

 

[Carolyn252]

Has anyone made a run that was just a rectangular cube covered on all six sides with hardware cloth, with the coop placed smack in the middle of the run? I've been thinking of creating an eight foot by ten foot run area. I'd mark off the rectangle on the ground, and then remove about six inches of earth throughout that rectangle. Then I'd simply build the cube in place so that the cube would be sitting six inches below the surrounding land. Then I'd walk into the run and and add the removed six inches of earth back into place on top of the cube's floor. Then I'd add wood shavings litter or maybe sod to the run. Seems to me that way, I'd have a completely predator-proof setup, and I could leave the coop door open all the time day and night. No need for cement, or concrete or wire aprons around the run. Just some vertical wooden posts to frame the four corners of the run; then some horizontals nailed to the verticals along the floor and along the top of the verticals. Probably would add some more vertical posts at three or four foot intervals to add more stability and rigidity to the whole thing. Seems to me it would be too big and heavy to need to set it in concrete. I'd partially cover some of the run's ceiling to provide shade and rain/snow protection. Any advice or comments about any of this? Would love to know what you think.

 

[Sock Puppet]

Thats Awesome! I wish I lived out in the boonies

I hate living in the city. Looks like they have plenty of room.


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[CoopCrazy]

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The only thing I would'nt like is going into the run to collect eggs, feed , and water.. My run is super nasty right now since we've been getting lots of rain. Otherwise i don't see why it won't work... Be creative have fun.. Just remeber functionality as well...

 

[DarkWolf]

I say use a glass cube.. You're forgetting about snakes!

Hmmm... Chicken under glass..

I'm pretty sure I've got my game plan down for a run. I'm going to make panels that are 5' wide and 6' tall which I can bolt together and stake to the ground to secure from lower lateral movement. This way I can easily 1) expand the run if I feel like it and 2) move the whole coop or just rearrange the run if I feel like it..

The frames will be made out of standard 2x4's and painted with the bottom [soil] board being made of either pressure treated 2x4 or landscape timbers. Support braces will be notched in on either side of the panel with 2x4 material to prevent racking.

The corners of the run will also have braces from one wall to the next at the top which can be bolted in place.

 

[tdgill]

i STILL don't know what I'm gonna do....so far, we babysit them freeranging in yard. with the dogs.

more runs!

 

[Omran]

 

[Carolyn252]

I just posted a bunch of pictures of my run underconstruction at
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=168126&p=3
The wiremesh was finally delivered today. As soon as it stops raining here and the sun comes out long enough to dry out all the framing, I'll prime and paint the run's frame and then we'll attach the wiremesh. Will post more photos as we go.
-Carolyn

 

[froggie71]

We dug a trench 2 1/2 feet down and about 1 ft wide with chicken wire going down and curled out. Keeps all predators out. At least so far. We did have sod in run because we thought it would keep down on mud, but with ducks this is not a good idea. They ate the grass, then left all their "muck" on top. Quite nasty. We just removed it and replaced it with sand. Wish we had done this to start with. We have our run in front of coop so we can watch all our birds. They are so cool to watch.

Now it's time for new coop and run for the chicks.

 

[Rosecomb-Ryan]

Mini Runs for seperate breeding coops for small bantams.