What’s a quick way to build a small run for 6 silkies?

[Shandina]

We are going to build a nice big run but we ran out of time. Winters approaching fast and my run area was in a low spot and held water so we got some fill to build it up. But since it’s either been raining or the ground is frozen and we can’t level it out yet. I had my silkies about a month even through their coop is 8x8 and big for just the 6 of them, I feel so bad they got outside yet. I was thinking maybe let them free range for a few hours before dark but the neighbours dog us out running loose everyday and I don’t wa t get to kill them. So I’m in destined to build some kind of a small run cheaply for now to just get them outside for a bit. Until the winter passes and we can build a nice one. Any suggestions?

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

PVC pipe and deer netting. Quick, easy, effective, and cheap. Does this help:
http://homebabycrafts.blogspot.com/2013/04/plans-for-portable-light-weight-chicken.html

 

[aart]

PVC pipe and deer netting. Quick, easy, effective, and cheap. Does this help:
http://homebabycrafts.blogspot.com/2013/04/plans-for-portable-light-weight-chicken.html

Not a bad choice, to contain the birds.....but it won't keep dogs, or much else, out.

 

[User395221]

I have used meshed baby playpen panels for my rabbit runs, they are easy to screw together and screw on the mesh/flyscreen.
Have you looked at pet stores? I also have several portable runs, a heavy wire one and a timber one. They do sell collapsible runs. Not huge, but probably ok for a few silkies to have some playtime.

 

[jthornton]

I was thinking maybe let them free range for a few hours before dark but the neighbors dog us out running loose everyday and I don’t want get to kill them. So I’m in destined to build some kind of a small run cheaply for now to just get them outside for a bit. Until the winter passes and we can build a nice one. Any suggestions?

Dogs will tear down cheaply built fences and kill all your chickens in a heartbeat I know. See if you can find an outdoor dog kennel the kind made from chain link fence. Dunno much about silkies but I bet they don't like the snow...

JT

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Definitely want to see your big run when it’s built.

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

Not a bad choice, to contain the birds.....but it won't keep dogs, or much else, out.

Yea.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

xs 2 on the dog kennel. they are 10x10 x6? ft. tall for the most of them. then I used chicken wire, (not the best pick) 4ft. as a skirt half way up and half way uot for smaller digging critters. I havent had problems yet. knock on wood.

 

[bruceha2000]

You can build pretty fast with cattle panels but it would have to be covered with something with much smaller openings to keep many predators out. Foxes, possums and coons can walk right through a CP.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Maybe try something like what i am building for my rabbits. Keeps them out of the mud and the solid side blocks wind. I have used this with silkies before.

You could even make a couple end to end. I have a build thread posted for this. I am using this one for rabbits. It will have a metal roof. So your silkies would stay dry.