Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => Chicken Chat => Topic started by: Hen 1-0 Fox on April 09, 2012, 21:50
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Hey all, i'm thinking about building my own chicken run in the next couple of months and have been looking for some plans/instructions which seem quite difficult to come by without paying some kind of fee for the privilege! i have found this page which loos interesting, and thought if we could share links we may be able to help each other stockpile some building plans. Apologies if this kind of thread already exists, i will wait to be advised, in the meantime check out this link with step by step plans to build a chicken run for free :)
http://www.selfsufficientme.com/blog/view/357/how_to_build_a_quail_or_chicken_run_in_10_easy_steps__part_1_ (http://www.selfsufficientme.com/blog/view/357/how_to_build_a_quail_or_chicken_run_in_10_easy_steps__part_1_)
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They have forgotton to keep one area dry so they don't get rained and snowed on. Also keeps food dry.
Some reccomend weld mesh to stop foxes biting their way in.
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Yeah I think he added clear currugated roofing a few weeks after it was built. Yeah ... know your foe and defend accordingly!
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Im still wanting to keep chickens but moneys a bit tight to buy materials etc for setup but i'd be interested in seeing plans and designs for when I eventually take the plunge.
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Dig the mesh in to the ground about 1 foot, it will deter foxes digging under it then, and like has been said already shelter from sun, and rain/snow etc
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Yes, it is certainly true that I needed to amend the build on my quail/chicken run to make it more weather friendly. I do have a large weather proof house where the quail can stay dry but this wouldn't be suffice if you were housing chickens (I have a separate chicken house for my chickens and I don't need a proper run for them).
Even though the quail were able to stay dry and the food stations were covered (and dry) they still had to come out from the house at some stage and consequently got wet during long rainy periods. I recently solved this problem by adding on a poly roof.
Back to chickens, it doesn't snow where I am but in a colder region tacking some marine ply at one end would be a good cost-effective idea (essentially closing off from the elements). Then, nesting boxes etc could be incorporated at that one end with "reach -in" access from the outside - should work nicely. My run design is just a guide to give people ideas really :)
This run was the cheapest (but robust) design I settled on. If I didn't have to battle predators, and subtropical rain, the build cost would be much cheaper. I think once you have a good frame up that's the most important part, then, how you make the run walls and roof is just a matter of assessing the needs for your part of the world. Cheers :)