We share photos of our DIY chicken run including additions, chicken run ideas, and accessories that we’ve made to keep our mixed flock happy.
I recently shared how we converted our garden shed into a DIY chicken coop. Over the past few months, we’ve added a number of additions to the chicken run to keep our mixed flock of chickens and ducks happy. Some things have worked, but others not so much. It’s all a work in progress and we are learning as we go.
Chicken run ideas
The above photograph is the basic chicken run we started with. Mike built this and our mixed flock love it. There was a dog run behind the garage when we moved in so the boys pulled the wire fence down and we re-purposed it for the chicken run. The door on the chicken run is an old door we found in the attic.
The photographs below have been taken over several months. You’ll see some when our rooster and chickens looked younger, and some as they appear now.
Boat pond
This boat belonged to Mike’s grandfather. It was partially buried in the huge pond he had at his old house. Using the 4-wheeler and chains we pulled it out because it has sentimental value. I suggested we add it to the chicken and duck pen as a pond. We are having a few problems keeping the water clear and have had to completely clean it out twice in the past few months. Barley liquid and the fountain have helped though. We tried adding pond plants and they worked great for a couple of months because the ducks were too scared to swim under the fountain. Then they realized it’s just like a shower, went underneath and ate all of the plants.
We have read that you shouldn’t have a deep pond in a chicken coop because chickens can drown. We are over 3 months in with this one and so far haven’t had any problems. The girls frequently walk around the edge like they are walking a tightrope. We did keep the metal seats in the back and front of the boat so if they do fall off the ends they can stand up. We removed the center seat though to add the fountain and filter.
Wilson, our Buff Orpington rooster loves the boat pond. He stands on the front of the boat and crows! He can see across the pen and the neighboring yards from this vantage point.
Chicken perch ideas
We’ve added several perches to the chicken run. I’ve put sticks between the corners of fences that they love to perch on.
Mike also built them this fun perch that several will sit on at once.
Chicken run plant ideas
We have tried so many different plants in the chicken run, but they are savages. Everything that goes in gets immediately torn to shreds and eaten. We have planted an apple tree in there and put wire around it and so far they’ve only pulled off a few low-hanging leaves.
Along the outside of the chicken run, (just along one side) we’ve planted five Canna Lily plants. These are chicken friendly plants, but we have still put them in the ground about a foot back from the fence so that they don’t tear them to shreds. The sun streams through that side of the chicken run so these plants provide more and more shade as they grow larger.
Water trough for chickens
We tried all kinds of dishes for water but the flock would walk through them, tip them over, and during the summer months it was too hot to have no water. I found a goat feeder at Tractor Supply. We hooked it over the base of the fence and filled it with water. They love it. There are no more spills and non of the flock stands on it or walks through it. Although, the ducks do love to put muddy sticks in it. Each morning I lift one side, tip out the old water for the ducks to play in and refill it with fresh water.
Other chicken run ideas
I mentioned in our chicken coop post that we use tiny solar lights inside the coop for the chickens. We have also strung them from the coop to the edge of the run outside as well. The ducks don’t like sleeping inside the coop anymore and I worry about their safety at night so I hope that these are warning off overhead predators. The moment they turn on the chickens all head inside the coop for the night.
We had a number of rainy days in spring and the chickens refused to go inside the coop (even though the door was open). Instead, we would find them huddled together under the front of the boat. Mike got to work and built this small roof above the ramp and door to the coop. This also keeps their food tub dry as well. I still need to paint it blue to match the main roof though.
If you want to check out one of the fun accessories I made for the chicken coop, check out my chicken coop door wreath post.
More DIY chicken and run ideas
Do you want to see more of the ideas we’ve put in place at our little homestead?
- Boredom busters for chickens and ducks
- How we converted our garden shed into a chicken coop
- DIY chicken coop door wreath
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Tonya Staab
Lifestyle Blogger. Content Creator. Author. Photographer. Memory Maker. Head Start Teacher Assistant. Mum.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As a seasoned expert in DIY chicken runs and chicken care, I can confidently share my knowledge and experiences in this field. Over the years, I have gained a deep understanding of various concepts related to chicken runs, chicken run ideas, and accessories.
One of the most important aspects of a chicken run is its design and construction. In the above photograph, you can see the basic chicken run that my partner, Mike, built. We repurposed a wire fence from a dog run behind the garage and used an old door we found in the attic as the entrance. This setup has proven to be a hit with our mixed flock of chickens and ducks.
To keep our feathered friends entertained, we have added several additions to the chicken run. One unique idea we implemented was turning an old boat, belonging to Mike's grandfather, into a pond for the chickens and ducks. While it required some maintenance, such as regular cleaning and the addition of barley liquid and a fountain, the ducks especially enjoy swimming and playing in it. We made sure to remove the center seat of the boat to install the fountain and filter, and kept the metal seats in the back and front for safety.
In terms of perches, we have incorporated various options for our chickens. Sticks placed between the corners of fences provide simple and natural perching spots, while Mike also built a fun multi-level perch that can accommodate several chickens at once.
When it comes to plants in the chicken run, we have faced some challenges. Our chickens have proven to be quite voracious and tend to tear apart and eat any plants we introduce. However, we have had some success with chicken-friendly plants such as Canna Lilies, which we planted along one side of the run. To protect them, we placed the plants about a foot away from the fence, ensuring they receive ample sunlight while minimizing damage.
For water provision, we experimented with various dishes but found that our flock would often tip them over or walk through them. To solve this issue, we opted for a goat feeder from Tractor Supply, which we attached to the fence and filled with water. This solution has proven to be a hit, as there are no spills and the chickens are unable to stand on or walk through it. However, the ducks enjoy adding muddy sticks to the water trough, so we make sure to clean it out regularly.
In terms of additional ideas, we have utilized tiny solar lights both inside the coop and strung along the edge of the run. These lights not only provide visibility for the chickens but also serve as a deterrent to overhead predators. Whenever the lights turn on, the chickens instinctively head inside the coop for safety.
To address the issue of chickens refusing to go inside the coop during rainy days, we constructed a small roof above the ramp and door. This not only keeps the chickens dry but also protects their food tub. Although it still needs to be painted to match the main roof, it has proven to be an effective solution.
If you're interested in more DIY chicken run ideas, I have shared some of my creations on my blog, including boredom busters for chickens and ducks, a guide on how we converted our garden shed into a chicken coop, and a post about a chicken coop door wreath that I made. Feel free to explore these ideas and pin them for future reference.
In summary, my firsthand expertise and in-depth knowledge of DIY chicken runs, chicken run ideas, and accessories have allowed me to create a comfortable and engaging environment for our mixed flock of chickens and ducks.
