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[DobieLover]

Something is wrong with this picture. There’s no poop on the chairs.

That's because it's on the seat of my pants!

 

[DobieLover]

I wondered the same!
..and those are very cool chairs @DobieLover

Those are very old cast aluminum chairs that I sanded and spray painted. I like 'em

 

[cecimich]

I love these photos. I've had chickens for 3 years and never had a run without issue. But lately hawks in my neighborhood have been really aggressive. After losing one of my girls I quickly had help building a make-shift run with metal t-bars, chicken wire and a roof of heavy duty bird netting. I know this isn't good for long term, especially for mammal predators, and would love to do something like the photos of the wood framed run. However, the estimates I've gotten are crazy. $4000 is beyond my budget. I wish I could do it myself, but I'm a single mom and just don't have time. My question - is $4000 a reasonable expectation? What did you all spend on your runs?

 

[Blooie]

Sure love ours. Withstands everything Wyoming can throw at it. Cheap, and easy enough to build that two old geezers, each partially disabled, built it by ourselves in a weekend. It has needed zero repairs in the 7 years it’s been up. When we decided to expand it, we just pounded in two more steel fence posts, took off the back piece, added another panel, put the end back on and we were done. No predator issues whatsoever.....the hardware cloth skirt and apron see to that. No wood or PVC framing, either. We’ve learned that the stiffer a hoop is built is built, the more it fights weather. Our flexes with the weather. Even our wild winds in excess of 60 mph don't faze it. With clear, mesh-reinforced plastic over the top in winter and landscape fabric in summer, the birds are always comfortable.


EDITED TO ADD: Forgot to answer the cost question. It’s been 7 years since we built ours, but I doubt seriously if we even broke the $500.00 ceiling.

 

[rosemarythyme]

My question - is $4000 a reasonable expectation? What did you all spend on your runs?

Over 2k. Everything's overpriced where I live. Mine's chain link though (and split in the middle so that's extra material cost). I did additional fortifying work myself to apron and surround the bottom few feet with hardware cloth, then we had a bird of prey issue so had to get netting and figure out how to attach it overhead afterwards. So I guess after all the extras I put in it's more like 3k now.

I do really like the look of wood framed runs. Maybe if I have to do another set up in the future I'll go that route.

 

[aart]

My question - is $4000 a reasonable expectation?

Depends on what you wanted them to build.
Did you give them a detailed plan and materials list?
Could be an "I don't want this job" highball quote.
Keep in mind that skilled labor is expensive, at least $15-20 an hour.

What did you all spend on your runs?

I spent about $300, but I already had some of the posts and wire.
If I had paid myself to do the work, would have septupled that amount.

 

[cecimich]

Thanks for the responses! I do think it was a "don't want the job" estimate. I decided to keep what I have and fortify it myself. I dug a trench all around and put in an apron, sewed all the seams with galvanized wire, etc. I feel good about it and spent total probably $600. Plus hours and hours of labor, of course!