Simple chicken run and coop design

[HenDude]

I am planning on building a new chicken run. However the bottom of the run will be exposed to bare soil. Is it a requirement with raising chickens to bury wire mesh underground to prevent rats and mice? Or if I remove the food before nighttime, will that prevent the rodents from coming?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That depends on where you live.
It may be necessary to keep rodents out. Removing the food is a good practice but rodents will still come in for food remnants.
It will probably be essential to keep raccoons, foxes and coyotes out (depending on where you live).
It doesn't have to be buried, however an apron laying on the ground outside the run is sufficient.

 

[HenDude]

Also, with building the run, should I just use metal stakes and plastic wire netting, or should I use the metal dog playpens that stand 4ft high? I plan to keep the hens’ wings clipped.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Also, with building the run, should I just use metal stakes and plastic wire netting, or should I use the metal dog playpens that stand 4ft high?

Again, it all depends on the predators in your area.
Plastic netting or chicken wire will keep chickens in but won't keep predators out.
If there is no top, hawks, raccoons and foxes at a minimum can get into a 4' pen.

 

[HenDude]

Again, it all depends on the predators in your area.
Plastic netting or chicken wire will keep chickens in but won't keep predators out.
If there is no top, hawks, raccoons and foxes at a minimum can get into a 4' pen.

Thank you. For daytime the chickens will be in the run. But nighttime I plan to build a secure structure. However I can’t afford a ready made chicken coop kit. Are there simple alternatives to housing chickens at night? Can I use a dog house and add roost bars inside? What about using a large Rubbermaid storage container as a coop?

 

[HenDude]

Can I convert this dog house into a chicken coop with a roost bar inside and a few nest boxes?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Unless you plan on housing two seramas, that won't be big enough.
I also don't recommend wasting money on a prefab coop kit. They are way over priced.
Either get a garden shed and convert it with windows, roosts and nests or wait to keep chickens till you can build decent housing.

How many and what kind of chickens do you want?

Interior measurements in that doghouse are probably about 9 sq. ft..
That's big enough for two chickens and it has no ventilation.
The quickest way to kill chickens is to cut off their oxygen.

Sorry to be a debbie downer.

 

[HenDude]

I plan to keep no more than 3-4 regular sized hens. What size of dog house can I convert into a coop that will fit these hens?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I plan to keep no more than 3-4 regular sized hens. What size of dog house can I convert into a coop that will fit these hens?

Interior measurements of at least 16 sq. ft.. However it also isn't tall enough. Chickens are not dogs. Dogs don't roost. Chickens like to roost as high as possible and the roosts need to be significantly higher than the nest box.

 

[HenDude]

Can I follow these examples I found on google or are these small sized coops illegal?