How to Build a Chicken Run: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Having chickens is incredibly rewarding. From the fresh eggs every morning to their quirky personalities, chickens make great pets. However, letting them free-range all day can lead to trouble. Chickens will dig up your garden, ruin your landscaping, and become easy prey for predators. The solution? Build a safe and secure chicken run attached to their coop.

This complete guide will teach you everything you need to know to build the perfect chicken run, from planning the layout to picking out materials and putting together the frame. All you need are some basic DIY skills and common tools to make an outdoor space your flock will love that is safe from predators.

Benefits of a Chicken Run

A chicken run provides many benefits

• Safety: When you’re not home to watch, the run keeps your chickens safe from predators. There will be dogs, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, opossums, hawks, and cats in the neighborhood that will want to eat your chickens.

• Controlled Access to the Outdoors—Chickens need to spend time outside every day. A run gives them access to the outdoors while keeping them safe inside.

• Protects Your Landscaping – Free-range chickens will dig up and eat your flowers, vegetables, and other garden plants. A run keeps your landscaping safe.

• Prevents Wandering – Chickens love to explore. But letting them roam could cause them to get lost or get hit by cars. A run keeps them close to home.

• Sanitation – Keeping their food and water outside prevents spills inside the coop. This reduces smells and chances of frostbite in winter.

Planning Your Chicken Run

When planning your chicken run, follow these guidelines:

• Location – Place the run right next to the coop with the side doors lining up. This allows easy access between the two spaces.

• Layout – Opt for a rectangular or square shape. Avoid long, narrow runs. Give them as much interior space as possible.

• Size – Allow at least 10 square feet per chicken in the run. Build it bigger than you think you need to accommodate future flock growth.

• Materials – Use rot-resistant wood like cedar or cypress for structural elements. Choose 1/2″ hardware cloth or welded wire for fencing.

• Predator Protection – Fortify the run against digging predators by burying wire fencing at least 8-12″ underground around the perimeter.

• Weather Protection – Add a roof to prevent rain accumulation and keep the run from becoming a muddy mess. This also protects food and water from the elements.

• Access – Install doors into the coop and at least one human access gate. The doors should swing outward and have springs for automatic closing.

Constructing the Chicken Run Frame

Follow these steps to build a secure chicken run frame:

Install Perimeter Fence Posts

• Space 4×4″ posts 6-8 feet apart around the perimeter of the planned run layout.

• Dig holes 12″ deep and place the posts inside. Fill holes with concrete for maximum stability.

• Use a level to ensure all posts are perfectly vertical and tops are aligned.

Add Horizontal Support Beams

• Screw 2×4″ boards horizontally to connect the tops of all perimeter posts.

• Add middle and lower support beams in the same way, sandwiching the wire fencing between the vertical posts and horizontal boards.

• Place vertical 2×4″ boards between the horizontal beams every 1-2 feet for a reinforced frame.

Create Trusses for Roof

• Build truss assemblies for the roof using 2×4″ boards joined in triangles. Place trusses 4 feet apart.

• Use hurricane ties to anchor the trusses securely to the top of the run frame.

• Leave space between trusses nearest the coop to allow the door to fully open.

Installing the Chicken Run Fencing

The fencing is what keeps predators out and chickens safely contained. Follow these recommendations:

• Bury galvanized 1/2″ hardware cloth 1 foot deep around the base of the run to prevent digging predators.

• Wrap 1/2″ hardware cloth around the outside of the frame, stapling it to the posts every 6 inches.

• Use sturdy 1″ chicken wire above the buried hardware cloth up to 6-8 feet high. This saves cost without sacrificing security.

• Add 1/2″ hardware cloth across the entire ceiling area and bury the edges in dirt around the perimeter to prevent climbing predators.

• Overlap all seams by at least 4 inches and use wire or metal snaps to connect. Eliminate gaps.

• Attach a gate with spring hinges, fastening it to posts with galvanized hinges. Add a latch to keep it closed. Install doors into the coop.

Essential Chicken Run Additions

Beyond just the basic frame and fencing, be sure to include these elements:

• Shade – Full sun is great in winter but dangerous in summer. Add shade cloth or position near trees.

• Roosting Bars – Chickens love perches. Install some horizontal roosting poles inside for enrichment.

• Food and Water – Hang or mount feed and water containers inside to keep them clean and prevent freezing.

• Bedding – Spread 4-6 inches of pine shavings or straw across the floor of the run for comfort and cleanliness.

• Electricity – If you live in a cold climate, run power to the run for heated water bowls in winter.

• Dust Bath Area – Create a dedicated section filled with loose dirt or sand for chickens to dust bathe.

• Dividers – Consider dividing the coop and run to keep flocks separate as needed for introduction of new chickens, brooding, injuries, or breeding.

Building your own chicken run is an ambitious but rewarding project for any backyard flock owner. The effort you put in will pay off in healthy, safe, and happy chickens for years to come. Just be sure to properly plan the design, use sturdy construction principles, and don’t skimp on fortifications against predators and the elements. Your chickens will thank you!