So the chicken coop wasn't large enough....we extended the run

As we got through our first 6 months of chicken farming, we realized that there's a reason the term "cooped up" exists.  Anticipating a cold, snowy/rainy winter (that never happened) we were concerned that leaving the chickens in their original digs would be problematic and end up with them getting rather stir crazy.

So we decided that we I would build a much larger run attached to the coop.

In the interests of making an extension using as much existing/leftover material as possible, I made it 4'x10'.  Why 4x10?  Because I had a number of 8' long 4x4's and had a few leftover 4x4's that were 12' long.  One was pretty twisted so I decided to cut off 2' to minimize the worst of it.  Thus: 4'x10'

As with the original coop, I made a base frame.  Unfortunately, I decided to try a different anti-critter approach to the base.  Rather than install the 1/2" grid as I did with the other, I attached it to the frame and excavated a trench underneath the frame and had the grid go vertically downward.  That was A LOT more work for a similar result.  Never again will I do that approach.

As you can see from the picture above (and below) we have a chicken waterer inside that can be plugged in to keep it warm during the winter.  Although it's smaller than the one in the coop, one thing it has going for it is that it doesn't have cups to collect dirt in it.  The chickens just poke a ball valve to get water.

As with the initial coop, we made a PVC food dispensary.  This time, we made it out of considerably larger diameter PVC so we don't need to fill it as often in the winter (or at all, for that matter).

As I mentioned above, we were concerned about the chickens getting bent out of shape if we were unable to get them out of the coop for a lengthy period of time.  As such, the wife wanted a swing (which they've never used) and a nesting bar (which they also have never used).  Regardless, they have them.  What they do use is the tire/dust bath.

 

We have also attached another solar powered light.  This one was purchased from Walmart.  We actually like it the best because you can install the panel and light separately and direct both sensor and light through independent articulation.

 

Lastly, I installed a hinged trap door separating the original chicken run and the new extension.  There are two pins that can be installed to keep one area from the other.  We have yet to need to close them off, but it's a nice option to have in the event we ever need to do so.