think this'll work as a run?

kidcallous

Chirping
9 Years
May 14, 2010
111
1
99
Central Florida
I don't currently own any chickens, but I am BROODING!
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I don't have a ton of money to get started, but priced out some materials today. Looking for some carpentry asvice.
I have seen a lot of the runs and coops on the coops page, and it looks like mostly, people use 2x4's as their run frames.
I am considering using 1x1's, but making small (3'x3') "screens" to stack and grid for less chance of wobbliness and using only a few 2x4's as the bones. I did the math, and this will save me a considerable amount of money.
I am looking to make a decent sized run of the following dimensions:
Sides: 9 feet long and 6 feet high (6 of the "screens" on each side
Front and back: 6 feet high and 6 feet wide (4 of the "screens on each side)

With enough reinforcement brackets and solid "bones"....think this'll work??

Thank you!!
 
I dont know jack about chickens yet either BUT I AM a carpenter....negative ignition on the 1x1s.....IF and I do Emphasize IF you were to minimize the other loads involved such as thinner plywood where it applies etc....2x2s would be ok but even if you approach it the way your talking the snowloads and/or windshears involved in mother nature would possibly put your birds (and maybe yourself) at risk of collapse....the other way to look at it IF you REALLY wanted to approach it with 1x1s and a grid system you are increasing the load on the remaining 2x4s to the point of possible failure....to use the system you are suggesting you would want to consider the "skeleton" to be 4x4 or consider doubling up the 2x4s atleast every other one.....bear in mind in this advice I have done NO load calculations at all...
 
Thank you for your reply!
I am located in central florida, so snow will definitely not be an issue. The run would be located next to a 6 foot privacy frnce, so wind will be minimal as well. I only have a small suburban yard with not much exciting weather except for rain.. actually considering positioning the run in a 7 foot 'nook' between the house and the fence because the nook is so smalll, we don't use it for anything...

2x2's are just slightly more expensive than the 1x1's so using those instead might be do-able financially.

Given the low wind and no snow location, would you still strongly recommend upgrading to 2x2's for the screen grids?
Thank you!!
 
Thank you for your reply!
I am located in central florida, so snow will definitely not be an issue. The run would be located next to a 6 foot privacy frnce, so wind will be minimal as well. I only have a small suburban yard with not much exciting weather except for rain.. actually considering positioning the run in a 7 foot 'nook' between the house and the fence because the nook is so smalll, we don't use it for anything...

2x2's are just slightly more expensive than the 1x1's so using those instead might be do-able financially.
Definitely don't want to build something in my price range and come out to find crushed chickens!

Given the low wind and no snow location, would you still strongly recommend using bigger than 2x2's for the screen grids?
Thank you!!
 
Thank you for your reply!
I am located in central florida, so snow will definitely not be an issue. The run would be located next to a 6 foot privacy frnce, so wind will be minimal as well. I only have a small suburban yard with not much exciting weather except for rain.. actually considering positioning the run in a 7 foot 'nook' between the house and the fence because the nook is so smalll, we don't use it for anything...

2x2's are just slightly more expensive than the 1x1's so using those instead might be do-able financially.
Definitely don't want to build something in my price range and come out to find crushed chickens!

Given the low wind and no snow location, would you still strongly recommend using bigger than 2x2's for the screen grids?
Thank you!!
 
Thank you for your reply!
I am located in central florida, so snow will definitely not be an issue. The run would be located next to a 6 foot privacy frnce, so wind will be minimal as well. I only have a small suburban yard with not much exciting weather except for rain.. actually considering positioning the run in a 7 foot 'nook' between the house and the fence because the nook is so smalll, we don't use it for anything...

2x2's are just slightly more expensive than the 1x1's so using those instead might be do-able financially.
Definitely don't want to build something in my price range and come out to find crushed chickens!

Given the low wind and no snow location, would you still strongly recommend using bigger than 2x2's for the screen grids?
Thank you!!
 
Most places sell 2x3 material cheap( I have been known to rip 2x4 length wise to make some things cheap)and landscape timbers are $2 instead of $6 for4x4x8's.

But 1x1?..Nope, looking for trouble

If I wanted to make a real cheap run..I'd use landscape timbers and, 2x3s for door.
 
through all my explanation, I realized that I could maybe use the existing fence and fence posts / chicken wire it, and cut out some expense by using the existing structure?? The fence was built last year, and has no gaps or spaces. I could run chicken wire along the length on that side just to be sure, but if I could do that, It would be like getting one side for free..

Its laid out like this:

House || _________7 feet of nothing______|| 6 foot privacy Fence

If i could do that, I can afford the sturdier materials. I didnt think about predators snapping the 1x1's... the racoons around here ARE pretty meaty and buff.

Otherwise, I would have to build a tiny run out of the sturdy stuff.

if I do get chickens, I wouldn't feel right leaving them in such a small space for most of the day, which is why I wanted to build a medium/large run. I had planned on letting them out of the run for about an hour in the afternoon when I get home from work, before they go in the roost for the night...but they would be in the run for most of the day.
 

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