One of our chicken runs got a DIY make over yesterday. The extension took less than no time with my brother and dad on hand to build the panels and fix them onto the back of the run to open it up further. This now makes it near enough as large as our other chicken run.
Putting the frames together….
Wire mesh goes on……
Putting the roofing sheets on……
Nearly done…..
Ta Da!
jackie
/ June 15, 2009How do you expect us to look at the chicken run with that body on show!!!!
Jackie
thegardensmallholder
/ June 15, 2009Jackie…..BEHAVE!! ;)
Chicken Ark
/ July 8, 2009What sort of wire mesh did you use? Depends where you live of course but I spent a fortune on VERY strong wire mesh to keep out foxes who went straight through the non-reinforced stuff. However for the amount of mesh that you’ve used it would cost hundreds of dollars for that much.
Nice design and execution though…
thegardensmallholder
/ July 8, 2009We used 19 gauge galvanised weld mesh, cost was approx £50 for a 30 metre roll and we have loads spare!
Duncan Page
/ August 13, 2009Nice looking run. I doubt any predators will be able to get through that heavy wire.
David
/ May 9, 2010what size wood did you use for the run ?
David
Karen @ The Garden Smallholder
/ May 9, 2010Hello David, we used 2×2 pressure treated timber.
Glynis Tucker
/ March 2, 2011Hi,
Your chook run looks fabulous, just what I’m looking for. How did you secure it to the ground? Is the roof made up of roofing sheets and wire mesh or is part of it open? Also, after the panels were made, was it assembled insitu around the chook house?
Thanks Glynis
The Garden Smallholder
/ March 2, 2011Hi Glynis
The run is so heavy that it doesn’t need securing down. The roof timbers are covered in mesh and then the plastic roof panels were placed on top. The run was assembled around the coops, there was no way my coops would fit through the door.
I hope this helps :)
Naomi
/ March 5, 2011Hi There,
I have only just found this. I am wondering if you still have this Chicken run and if possible let me know the entire dimensions please and how many birds you have. We have just got some pullets and some will grow to fairly large birds and I want to ensure they have adequate space when they cannot be let out to roam the garden.
Many thanks in advance
Naomi :-))
The Garden Smallholder
/ March 6, 2011Hi Naomi,
Each one of my walk-in runs are approx 9ft wide x 17 foot long and just over 6ft high.
The maximum number of hens that have ever been kept in one run is 7. I currently have 2 walk-in runs, one only has 2 hens occupying it at present, the other has 4. This is plenty of room for them when not free ranging.
Hope this helps :)
sonia
/ June 16, 2011hi there what a fab run i am getting three bantams soon will your chickens stay in this run or do you let them out to roam?
Katrina J
/ March 7, 2012This is exactly what I’m looking to build. Thanks for the picture tutorial; that helps! One question, though: Are you concerned about predators digging underneath the run? I’m thinking I’ll need to extend the hardware cloth underground a bit. What do you think?
Karen
/ March 7, 2012Hi Sonia, we let them out to roam when someone is there to watch them. We’re surrounded by farmland and foxes are around.
Hi Katrina, inside the runs are slabbed with paving slabs (not shown in these pics) with soft horse bedding on top so that the chickens can scratch around. We have put heavy blocks all the way round on the outside, the runs sit partially on a concrete path at the back. You can bury the mesh if you prefer, I personally prefer the blocks.
clairesallotment
/ April 6, 2012Your chickens look very happy in their new home. Oh to have something like that in my garden. One day maybe.
John
/ April 13, 2012The run looks great! You mentioned you used 2×2 pressure treated timber. Did you double them up on any part of the run or are they all 2×2 standing alone?
Karen
/ April 13, 2012Hi John, thanks for your kind comment regarding the walk-in chicken runs. The panels were all made separately, then joined/screwed together. Same thing for the roof panels. The joins make it strong, the only place where the wood doubles up. Hope this has answered your question?
Karen
William
/ April 15, 2012Hi Karen! The run is gorgeous! I built one last fall but didn’t put a roof on it. Is there any chance you can take a few more pictures of the roof and post them here or email them to me? =)
Karen
/ April 16, 2012Thank you, William. I will send you an email once I’ve taken some photos. Please remind me if you don’t hear from me!
Karen
Christine
/ April 21, 2012I love the chicken run!! We are going to start ours after lunch. What did you use for the roof? Thanks
Crystal Tillman Wellman
/ April 25, 2012What a chicken run!
Shelley
/ May 4, 2012Your chicken run photos are just what i needed to invision my soon to be chicken run and help my husband understand what i want. Thank you so much!
Karen
/ May 4, 2012Good luck with building your run, I will be moving mine to a different location in the garden at some point this year, more photos to come.
Ben
/ July 8, 2012Excellent run Karen!
So much so I have 25 2″x2″ being delivered tomorrow, a roll of galvanised mesh in the hallway and hoping to follow the design above (at least as far as the space we have).
Quick question: how did your brother measure/cut the inside edge support bits? I assume lay a piece of wood across and mark it. Not having done anything like this before. Just checking before I have a garden full of off-cuts!
Karen
/ July 8, 2012Oh good luck with your project, Ben!
He cut it to size using a mitre saw, hopefully you have one too. I suppose you could lay the wood across and cut it, then once you have it right use it as a template – but what do I know! ;)
Ben
/ July 9, 2012Thanks Karen. Sadly not ;D, the only saw I have is covered in rust in the shed, will need replacing but mitre saws look a little pricey, so will battle on. Thanks again.
Karen
/ July 9, 2012You’re welcome, Ben. I know those saws can be pricey, I’m sure it can be done without one though.
Ben
/ July 10, 2012Think I may have a workaround for anyone else who finds themselves in the same position: mitre boxes or blocks. Plastic containers that you place your wood in and saw through the groove. From £3.00. Wickes, B&Q etc
Thanks!
Mark
/ March 5, 2013Hi – I know you bought this a while ago but can you recommend a supplier for galvanised mesh at a good price? I love your design & will be setting to work this Spring! Many thanks in advance.
The Garden Smallholder
/ March 5, 2013Hi Mark, we bought our aviary weld mesh from these guys http://www.hillsofdevon.co.uk/aviary-mesh.html Good luck with your aviary!
Lesley
/ April 21, 2013Hello there, love your chicken run what I am hoping my husband is going to make me!. could you please tell me where you bought your original run from and roughly how much it cost you. We are wondering if it works out the same to buy a pre made one rather than doing it from scratch. many thanks.
.
The Garden Smallholder
/ April 21, 2013Hi Lesley,
I bought mine from a guy called Mark, he used to have a website (I can’t find it now) but now he’s selling through Ebay, here’s the link to a similar run but ours are bigger. I’m sure Mark will make you one to size if you ask.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CHICKEN-FERRETT-PIGEON-BIRD-AVIARY-RUN-UK-DELIVERY-AVAILABLE/281090284709?ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1&ih=018&category=46292&cmd=ViewItem
Phone 07706034215 or 01952 540914
VERY helpful and well made. Best of luck :)
Lesley
/ April 21, 2013Thank you so much for your swift reply ! :-). very kind of you. I will get hubby to have a look at the website tomorrow. . I will let you know how we get on in due course. I really enjoy reading your blog and find it very helpful, I look forward to read your future posts!. All the best x
Mark
/ April 22, 2013Hi again, I’ve got my mesh ordered from ‘Hills of Devon’ thanks for the recommendation – great value for money!
I’ve got one more question ref the roofing, it doesn’t look like your roof has an angle to allow water run off, is this important or doesn’t it matter? When constructing my frame I want to try & get it right first time! :)
Many thanks again for your time & wisdom…
Mark
The Garden Smallholder
/ April 22, 2013Hi Mark, the roof does have a slight angle to it (just not shown very well in the photos) due to the floor sloping slightly to give a good run off. We’ve since put in cross beams to strengthen and prevent the roof sheets from sagging under the weight of snow after it turns to ice! You learn these things as time goes by.
Mark N
/ May 15, 2013Hi. After a long cold winter I have finally got round to building my first chicken run inspired by your pictures. My run is 5.5 metres long x 1 metre depth which I have almost finished. I constructed it all together first (making each frame was the hardest and most time consuming!) then once assembled I stained it with a good wood stain with 2 coats before finally stapling the wire mesh on which I have yet to do, which brings me to my question; is it best to staple the mesh to the inside or outside of the frames? Looks like your run has the mesh on the outside but I was thinking of fixing it to the inside as I think it would look neater as you wouldn’t see the staples. Or would this make it easier for predators to try and get in?
I would prefer to fix it to the inside but obviously safety and security are the priority for my chickens which I will be getting very soon! Many thanks for any advice you can offer.
The Garden Smallholder
/ May 15, 2013Hi Mark
You’re right, we stapled the wire to the outside of the frames. The reason we chose to do this was to prevent injury to the chickens from sharp edges of the wire.
Karen
Mark N
/ May 15, 2013Many thanks for the very quick reply. Yes I was thinking the same about any sharp edges may cause injury to the chickens. That’s made my decision now. Thanks again!
The Garden Smallholder
/ May 15, 2013Mark, you’re welcome!
Mark N
/ May 21, 2013Hi again. I am sorry to keep asking but was wondering if you could give me some advice please, having almost finished my chicken run I had the idea to construct it in a way so I wouldn’t have to go inside it to collect the eggs. So I lay my coop width ways and cut a hole just big enough in one of the mesh panels and had the egg box of the coop poking through the mesh so it would be easy access. I then made sure that the mesh is securely stapled to the coop and no gaps were accessible. Thinking this is a good idea I am not so sure now as now that the egg box is exposed to the outside of the run just how safe is it? Could foxes bite or chew there way through the wooden egg box? I really don’t want to change the position of my coop but not sure what to do now. I was planning on getting the chickens today but think I may have to make some adjustments first. What do you think? Thanks again for any advice you can offer.
The Garden Smallholder
/ May 21, 2013Hi Mark, it really depends on how solid or well-made your coop is. If it’s made from strong, thick timber then it should be OK but I cannot guarantee this of course. I’d make sure the lid closes tightly (no gaps at all) and can be locked securely (I have a small padlock on mine even though it’s inside the run). Foxes have been known to lift lids of nest boxes up with their noses to gain access to coops. You could staple pieces of wire mesh to the underside of the next box for extra security, rats can be a problem too.