After roosting, your chickens need to get out of their small chicken coop (even if it does have ventilation) and enjoy a bit of exercise out in your backyard. However, leaving them out in the open makes them more susceptible to attacks from predators. What hawk or fox wouldn’t be tempted by a small flock of hens? Thus, it is crucial that you build a covered chicken yard or a chicken run that will keep them safe while they get a bit of fresh air—we all want free-range chickens, after all!
Your chicken run should be safe from predators of all kinds. Since hawks attack from the air, you need a wire fence that covers the top. Furthermore, foxes are known to dig under the coops and attack chickens. Thus, it is imperative that you cover the ground as well but still allow easy access for the hens.
Building your own chicken yard can be quite easy, especially if you follow five key steps. First, however, let’s talk about the supplies you will need:
Supplies
- Wooden posts of about 8 foot
- 2×4 14GA welded wire fence (do not use chicken wire. Instead, hardware cloth or a sturdy steel wire fence should do)
- Net staples
- Metal wires
- A strong metal gate
- Zip ties
Tools
- Tamper
- Pliers
- Wire snips
- Hammer
- Tape measure
- Post hole digger
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepping for Your Chicken Yard
The first step is to determine the location and the dimensions of your chicken run. Ideally, your chicken run should be immediately outside your coop. This way, your chickens can easily get into the yard and out of it.
For the ideal dimensions, it depends on how many chickens you have. If you have only a few chickens then a standard 4’x4’ space is ideal. Even if you leave it uncovered, Hawks won’t land in such a narrow space.
If you have a lot of chickens, then you can go for a larger size, as long as your backyard allows for it. Furthermore, the height should be sufficient so you can easily get in and out of it for cleaning. We generally recommend a height of 8 feet.
In addition, make space for your gate as well. A great idea is to have a pop hole in the coop from where your chickens can enter the run easily.
Use a tape measure to make markings on the ground. It’s not necessary that your run should be a perfect square. You can make it wider on one end and narrower on the other.
2. Start Spacing Posts
After you’ve mapped out where you want your chicken run to be, it’s time to start placing the posts. Start off with the corners first. Use a post hole digger to dig holes of about 2 foot in each corner. After you’re done, place 8’ wooden poles in each hole and fill it with dirt. Finally, pack the hole with a tamper.
From each corner, start spacing the posts with a difference of about 6 foot. Repeat the process for each post. Also, remember that you need two additional posts for the gate. You can place them wherever you want to.
The process of where to place the posts is definitely intuitive and it’s entirely up to you how much spacing you want.
If you want a coop with a lower height, you can try going with 7-inch posts.
Place the Wire Fence
Start rolling the wire fence out until you’ve got enough to cover all the posts. Dig a trench on the perimeter of your marked area. The trench can be about 6–12 inches wide. The idea is that the fence will reach beneath the ground which will prevent any predators from digging under the fence.
Hold the fence up in place and use a zip tie to secure it to the first post. Wrap the fence around the first post tightly. For the other posts, simply pull the fence tightly against the post and use zip ties to secure it.
For the last post, wrap the fence around it and secure it with zip ties. Use wire snips to cut the part where the fence goes over the gate. Wrap the wire around these gate posts in a similar fashion. These zip ties temporarily hold the fence in place to ensure that the wire is wrapped securely all around with no gaps.
Next, for permanent stability, use poultry staples to attach the wooden posts with the fence. You can also use pieces of wire. You can either choose to remove the zip ties or leave them to add even more stability.
Attach Hardware Cloth
This may be optional for you if your wire has very small openings. Still, it can add another layer of protection to your run. You can use the hardware cloth and wrap it around the bottom section of the coop. You can also try placing it as the roof. Keep in mind that hardware cloth can be quite costly.
Furthermore, measure and cut out the hardware cloth so you can place it on the ground. Cover the mesh with bales of straw or sound so your chickens can walk over it naturally.
Attach a Gate
The next step is to attach a gate. You can either try buying a gate or make one yourself. We recommend going with a metal wire gate as well. However, ensure that the metal wire has very small openings so no predators can enter through. You can use a wooden gate as well.
Simply screw down the hinges of the door to one side of the door. Next, screw one part of the latch on the door and the other part on the post. Make sure that the latch is about 5 feet above the ground so no predator (or child) can open it.
Final Thoughts
All in all, building a chicken run is a piece of cake with these five easy steps. You can add bedding or a couple of other accessories to make the chicken yard seem more welcoming for chickens. No more herding them inside the coop for fear of predators. Let your chickens reign free in your DIY chicken yard.