Need advice - How can we extend our run?

[dearmeghann]

Hello all!

My partner and I are currently building our new coop/run in a different part of our property. We have five girls and wanted to expand our flock to around 10 (yeah, I know... chicken math!) Our coop is 8x8, but our run is teeny tiny! I'm not sure what we were thinking. It's 8x16 and will have a roof.

We will let them out to free range in the afternoons and on the weekends when we're there - this is what we do now. We have random dogs that come around, so we wouldn't feel comfortable letting them free range when we're not there (unless we have a very secure fence situation) - so we were thinking about creating an extension on the run and not including the roof. (We have plenty of space to cut back the brush to the left.)

I'm sure this isn't easy - but are you able to keep greenery in those types of runs? I was thinking of including grazing boxes to help grow fodder and planting some of their favorites, with hardware cloth protecting the roots.

Do you have any suggestions on an extension to our run? Have you done it yourself? Do you have any suggestions on the materials or fencing you would recommend? I've seen some folks use netting to prevent hawks.

Note: We're not move-in ready. There is still plenty more to work out, including washers for the hardware cloth and ventilation. But I will accept any recommendations to improve!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It can all depend on predators in your area. Netting can potentially keep out hawks, but it tears easily unless you get the expensive stuff. Raccoons can probably go through the netting to if it isn't well made. I can tell you from experience that regular bird netting doesn't stop everything, and in winter will be brought down by heavy snow.

Fencing is another area where it depends on predators. Most will say build as secure as you can afford to. It takes one wayward critter to wipe out your whole flock.

 

[KyCoop]

It depends on how much work you want to do and how much money want to spend. You can set posts and frame it then cover it with hardware cloth. You could do a hoop style with covered in chicken wire. You can also do T-post with deer netting , a dog kennel run.
There are tons of options.

 

[FrostRanger]

With dogs being a concern, I'd do hardware cloth on top of welded wire. The hardware cloth will keep raccoons and whatnot from reaching in and grabbing a bird while the welded wire will hold up against dogs

Of course a sturdy skirt going out 2-3 feet away from the fence will be needed as dogs and many other predators can dig

Old fishing nets are quite sturdy and should keep hawks out. That or build a roof if that's in your budget. A covered run is 100% worth it if you can afford it

 

[dearmeghann]

Raccoons can probably go through the netting to if it isn't well made. I can tell you from experience that regular bird netting doesn't stop everything, and in winter will be brought down by heavy snow.

We're lucky that we rarely get snow - especially snow that lasts. But raccoons are definitely a factor to worry about! Thank you for commenting!

It depends on how much work you want to do and how much money want to spend. You can set posts and frame it then cover it with hardware cloth. You could do a hoop style with covered in chicken wire. You can also do T-post with deer netting , a dog kennel run.
There are tons of options.

I think t-posts or more 4x4s in the ground will be the most realistic. Everything else we've talked about has had flaws. Thank you for responding!

With dogs being a concern, I'd do hardware cloth on top of welded wire. The hardware cloth will keep raccoons and whatnot from reaching in and grabbing a bird while the welded wire will hold up against dogs

I didn't think about the welded wire at the bottom. I love that idea! We just have the hardware cloth, but that extra layer of protection will be worth it! Thank you!

 

[dearmeghann]

Here's where we're at: We're going to keep the 8x16 enclosure with the roof. It rains a lot (normally), and that'll keep the girls more protected from the sun. And then we're going to add an extra enclosure without a roof, to hopefully grow some grass and fodder with grazing boxes. We might keep solar cloths on top to help cool it off during the summer. I can't wait to start growing viney plants.

They will still have their afternoon/weekend free-range time, but I think having both options will help us feel better about keeping them inside the run all day. Especially if we add to the flock.

We're still debating between T-posts and lumber. We've cemented the 4x4's for the existing run, but does anyone have any other sturdy options that wouldn't require cement or using 4x4s? Maybe those pavers folks use for garden beds? We'd have a hardware cloth apron if that were the case.

 

[ChaosMom]

Here's where we're at: We're going to keep the 8x16 enclosure with the roof. It rains a lot (normally), and that'll keep the girls more protected from the sun. And then we're going to add an extra enclosure without a roof, to hopefully grow some grass and fodder with grazing boxes. We might keep solar cloths on top to help cool it off during the summer. I can't wait to start growing viney plants.

They will still have their afternoon/weekend free-range time, but I think having both options will help us feel better about keeping them inside the run all day. Especially if we add to the flock.

We're still debating between T-posts and lumber. We've cemented the 4x4's for the existing run, but does anyone have any other sturdy options that wouldn't require cement or using 4x4s? Maybe those pavers folks use for garden beds? We'd have a hardware cloth apron if that were the case.

If we’re talking about the base of your run, consider 12x12x2 concrete pavers/ stepping stones ($1.88 at Lowe’s) outlining the perimeter, then your framing lumber resting on that, then the HWC apron attached to the framing lumber, extending outward to protect against predators.

I didn’t think the pavers would be needed, but one of my girls is a determined digger, and the pavers have foiled her. For now.

A little hard to see her through the HWC, but here’s the culprit, plotting her next move:

 

[Penpal]

I use portable electric poultry netting. you can use a plug in charger or solar. We often get power outages so I now have a solar charger.

You can move the netting around and do a sort of rotational grazing with it.