Pvc Chicken Run

[Adopted Chickenman]

I am looking for designes for a portable chicken tractor made from PVC and chicken wire. This run would be used during the day to allow my girls to free range under protection from air (hawks) and land preditors (coons, skunks, foxes, etc). Needs to be light enough to move around so the girls won't tear up and kill all the grassy areas. Would like it to be large enough for 16 hens approx 10' w x 20 l x 4' h. I do have a hen house and an attached 10' x 10' x 6' dog kennel run for everyday protection but they have destroyed all the grass and all that is left is top soil that I replace ever so often. Any plans or url address that show how to's would greatly be appreciated. Thanks, Adopted Chickenman

 

[itsy]

Hey! This is so easy to make that you almost don't need plans. I made one myself without much knowledge at all. I made a rectangular frame out of wood first. PVC bends very easily. Just make sure that you use these pipe clips on the inside. They make different sizes for different width PVC. It's hard to make these things fully predator proof because something could just go under it, so I used chicken wire instead of hardware cloth on most of it. ...Figured it wasn't meant to be predator proof as much as it was meant to keep the chickens in. I attached all of the chicken wire to the PVC with zipties. I just looked, but I don't have photos of it on this computer. Grr.

Good luck! I'm sure there's plenty of links on here where people made similar setups.... I'd also search through the meat section to see what people used for meat birds.

Not what you're looking to make, but another option.....I made this one very cheap. Because it was heavier than the PVC tractor, it made getting under it more difficult, but I also ended up skirting it with more wire/hardware cloth. Although if a raccoon really wanted to, he would have been able to open up that chicken wire pretty easy.

 

[BWKatz]

Look at my page for pictures, details and costs. Be aware that u need to secure using plant hooks or whatever to keep it from flying away in heavy wind. Once late fall came with huricanes etc, and the PVC starts getting brittle due to cold, u need to bring it in and use a permanent pen. If u don't, the winds will break the connections. Good luck . I have repaired mine x1 season and still find it a worthwhile investment.

 

[BlazeJester]

If you have access to bamboo, I would recommend using that in place of PVC. You'll need to fashion lashings to secure the joints, but bamboo is incredibly strong, weathers well and flexes nicely if you want a hooped roof. Wish I had pictures of my friend's run - it is made entirely of bamboo that is 3" in diameter. HUUUUGE!

 

[tennesseeckn]

I haven't done it, yet, but if I do meaties in the spring I plan on building the simple plan on this site.

http://www.pvcplans.com/pvc-pastured-poultry-pen.htm

 

[real_redhead]

I bought my coop off of craigslist. the previous owner had made a PVC pipe run and had attached it to the coop but she didn;t move it around the yard. here are some pics. Originally the run was covered in wire all around, I removed the wirefloor of the run to make it easier to move and keep clean. I push it up against my coop. I put wheels on the coop and it was easier to move the coop then move the run. She used zip ties to hold the wire to the PVC. Has worked well since May!

 

[joan1708]

Great info! The PVC site has great ideas also!