I want to build a secure run for our chickens — something we can move around the yard. I’ve seen a lot of A-frame chicken tractors — I assume people use the triangular shape instead of a rectangle because there’s less material for a given footprint and, thus, the tractor is lighter and easier to move. Chickens aren’t that tall, so they can use most of the “knee wall” section of the tractor. But I thing it will be nicer to be able to use 100% of the footprint. Since 5′ hardware cloth seems quite rare, and there’s no reason to have a run that’s higher than 3′ … I’m designing this around 3′ sections. The vertical walls will use one length of 3′ hardware cloth. The top will have two “sections” of 3′ hardware cloth.

The run will be a wooden frame covered in 1/2″ mesh hardware cloth. The frame is put together as shown in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSvpYh5OBYU. I plan on using 2×4’s to build the frame, stapling the hardware cloth to the frame, and then using 1×2’s over the edge of the hardware cloth to ensure sharp edges won’t snag or cut anything. The screws holding the 1×2’s onto the 2×4’s will provide additional security.

On each corner, I need two 3″ long screws and another two screws for the board along the top. That’s 28 3″ long screws. I’ll need a bunch of fencing staples to hold the hardware cloth and some eighty 1.5″ long screws to hold the 1×2 to the 2×4’s

I need just over 50′ of three-foot-wide hardware cloth (10′ + 10′ + (2 x 10′) + 6′ + 6′ = 52′). Since I’ll need some to secure the coop too, I’ll probably just get a 50′ roll and a 20′ roll. I need 5x 10′ long 2×4’s, 4x 6′ long 2×4’s, 4x 3′ long 2×4’s (cut from 4x 10′ long 2×4’s) … which is nine 10′ long 2×4’s. I also need nine 10′ long 1×2’s to cover the ends of the hardware cloth. And maybe some handles on the top 6′ board to make carrying the thing easier.

I need to research a non-toxic paint or sealant, and we’ll have a chicken tractor.