[SurreyLass]

We are about to embark on building a walk-in run for my darlings.
Does anyone have any top tips / must haves that you simply couldnt be without in your set up?

We will build it so that our existing house and its built-in small run is on the outside, opening up into the big run.

[JaK]

Try to put a roof of some kind over all or even just some of it. This will help to keep it clean and dry. Ours has a corrugated plastic roof.

[joyfull]

make it high enough to stand up in. 

[sarajane]

Dig deep enough, 18 inches or so and bury wire there to stop rats, foxes etc tunnelling.

[mohs.ayaz]

Jak which corrugated sheets did u use? Im looking to put some on my run., pvc clear 3inch profile and 0.8mm thickness?

[splash101]

mohs.ayaz, PVC Corrugated sheets of 0.8mm are very flimsy and crack fairly easy. If you live in an area prone to wind i would give them a miss.

They can support the weight of local cats  but wouldnt keep a fox out

On the plus side they do let a lot of light in and keep the rain out.

If you can afford to, and you still want to use clear corrugated plastic, go for a much thicker sheet. 

[Funky chuck]

I would advise to use weldmesh rather than chicken wire as a determined fox can chew through chicken wire. I used weldmesh under the corrugated plastic just in case it lifted in the wind or it cracked and left an opening, double security. I'd have the roof sloping too.

[JaK]

Pretty sure ours is thicker than that.
Before we put the roof on we attached chicken wire, it covers the whole top. We then put the plastic roof on. It is sturdy enough to keep foxes out and the chicken wire also keeps out rats.

[wildwitchy]

I've laid concrete slabs in mine & put woodchip down. Its been the best option in all the years of keeping chickens for me.

I've got clear coroline plastic roofing on mine (screwed down at very regular intervals to prevent lifting) & I sealed all the edges that over/underlap with silicone sealant as I found I still had some leaks. NO leaks now  plus i've put a white heavy duty tarp on top.

I've also wrapped clearish thickish plastic sheeting around the coop and tied it down with cable ties to protect the chix from the wind and rain that will blow in, a bit more insulation for them.

Yes, weldmesh is a must.

A decent gate. I originaly had a open cris cross type gate on & rodents would get so i've put a solid gate on now with minimum gap as possible.

Put some shelving up to put all your chickeny first aid, powders, etc on, its very useful. It saves me keep on triasping back to the shed!

[helens-hens]

I'll second the concrete slabs. I haven't even laid mine properly - just levelled the ground out as well as I could and laid the slabs directly on the ground (with a bit of grit here and there to help the levelling). Its not perfect but does the job and is easy to keep clean and also should prevent any foxes digging their way into the run.

[nerdle]

I agree that weld mesh is the stuff although I didn't really want the silver stuff in my garden so I got the upvc coated version as it's hardly visible.  The Eglu apron of mesh outside the run is a good idea if you don't want to dig a trench.

There is a gap in the market for fox proof runs which are also beautiful.

[themagicaltoad1]

I have sabs around the perimeter of the run but bark chips on soil in the middle. The area  under the covered roofed part stays nice and dry and they like to dust bathe there, although the hole they've dug looks like they're trying to get to Austaralia

[mohs.ayaz]

Thanks joyfull.. Im thinking of corrugated all over. I'v seen some 9ft by 2.5 feet for £16.00 and they are 1.1mm thick, not sure if thats thick enough it'll have support underneath though

[mohs.ayaz]

Jak what do u think of this:
http://www.cabp.co.uk/acatalog/4mm-Polycarbonate-4M-x-1220mm-B44012.html

[JaK]

That looks good, the only thing that would worry me is that in the long term it might go green on the inside. See if you can go and look at some, if you can power wash it it should be fine.