Chicken runs are a crucial item needed to ensure that your chickens have enough room to roam around and exercise but also so that they can do so safely.
We appreciate not all backyard chicken owners have the option to let their chickens roam freely, this can either be the result of a lack of space, unsuitable yard conditions, local predators, or even just as a choice (chickens can easily wreak havoc on prized vegetable patches!).
When it comes to selecting a good Chicken Run then, it’s important to get a product that has some specific features that make it suitable for use. Some runs on the market can be quite expensive and have features that you don’t necessarily need and we’ve therefore researched the market to find what we consider to be the best cheap chicken run.
Read on to see what you need to look out for in a chicken run and what our recommendation is for the best value for money option.
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Table of Contents
What is a Chicken Run
A chicken run is an outdoor housing that gives your chicken a space to roam around outside of their coop freely and safely. The coop is an indoor space that provides warmth, shelter, and a place to sleep/roost.
Chicken runs are typically made from metal or wooden fencing beams with a surrounding wire mesh/fencing. This structure is not only designed to keep your chickens securely in one place but it’s also designed to keep predators out.
Why Do Chickens Need a Run
Chickens need a safe area to freely roam. Keeping them as pets will often give them a better life than if they are in the wild, however, it’s still important to protect them from predators as their well being is now your priority and responsibility.
Free-range chickens have the freedom to roam but are also at risk from predators (though most farmers and large flock owners will have systems in place to minimize this risk).
As a backyard chicken owner, you likely don’t have the infrastructure in place to protect your chickens from predators and therefore a chicken run is often used to give your chickens fresh air, vitamin D, and exercise without the stress or danger of lurking predators.
There is also the fact that chickens can take flight and clear most fences that are 4ft-5ft high meaning that you not only need to keep your chickens safe from predators, you also need to keep them safe from fleeing!
Key Considerations
When looking to purchase a Chicken Run, there are a few key factors that you need to take into consideration to ensure they are suitable for your yard and chickens. Not all runs are made equally so these factors should not be skipped over:
- Size – The size of the run you require will depend on how much free space you have, how many chickens you have, and how large of a coop you have. The chickens need plenty of room to exercise and move around so if you have a large flock and a large coop, a larger run would be required.
- Material – The single most important thing that you need to consider is the material of the run. Predator-proofing and escape-free materials are essential. The strength of the material will depend on your geographical location, the UK for example will need protection from foxes and birds however certain areas of the US will be more concerned with protecting against larger birds, snakes, rodents, or even bears!
- Location – When setting up a run you will likely want to place it in a location that you don’t mind getting damaged. Chickens are quite destructive, they dig, poop, and will peck/eat just about anything. You, therefore, want to place your run somewhere with grass that you don’t mind getting damaged and also away from your vegetable and flower patches.
- Maintenance – A chicken run keeps all of your chickens in one area which greatly improves maintenance and cleaning. As mentioned, chickens can be quite destructive when they want to be so keeping them in a central location makes it much easier to care for them.
Top 3 Cheap Chicken Runs
3. Giantex Small Chicken Run
[amazon box=”B07KTS8K4C”]
Key Features
- Size: 10’ x 13’ x 6.5’
- Galvanized steel tube frame
- PVC coated wire mesh
- Waterproof pitched roof
The Giantex small chicken run is an inexpensive, durable, and spacious run that is well suited for those that have a few chickens and a smaller yard. While this may be the “small” model, you’ll find that it’s still spacious due to the 10’ x 10’ frame.
Setup with this product is one of the key selling points. Almost all users have found this product to be very easy to set up due to the clear instructions and quick fitting poles.
While the fast and easy setup is one of the key selling points, the price is actually the real appeal of this product. If you are looking for a cheap chicken run, Giantex offers an affordable product that is also durable and long-lasting.
The one point we do need to make is that it is not completely predator-proof as the wire mesh is not the most solid. As a result, you will need to add some additional mesh to keep out any determined and cunning predators.
What We Liked
- Easy to add additional reinforcement due to the smaller size.
- Quick and easy setup with this product, almost all users have found this to be relatively easy to assemble.
- It’s one of the most inexpensive runs on the market.
- Comes well-reviewed and customer service is quick and helpful.
What Could Be Better
- The smaller run will need further reinforcement to make it fully predator-proof.
- It may not have enough space to also house a coop.
2. Giantex Medium Chicken Run
[amazon box=”B07KWNKRW4″]
Key Features
- Size: 13’ x 13’ x 6.5’
- Galvanized steel tube frame
- PVC coated wire mesh
- Waterproof pitched roof
The mid-range option from Giantex with a size of 13’ x 13’ offers great flexibility for use. The extra three-foot it offers over the smaller version means you can make use of a larger coop and also offers the flexibility to grow your flock without the need to upgrade the run.
Its solid structure has a galvanized steel tube frame that is easy to assemble, durable, and weatherproof. Some users have experienced some issue with rusting though and we would therefore recommend supplying an additional weatherproof coating just as a precaution.
As with the smaller product, assembly is straightforward and effortless and most users are able to assemble it themselves (though keep in mind that Amazon offers an assembly service which could be a real time-saver).
As the features are the same as the smaller option, this product is best suited to those who have some flexibility in terms of yard size and flock.
What We Liked
- Protective coop cover for weather resistance and shelter for a coop.
- Galvanized steel tubing provides a solid structure.
- The medium size will be most suitable for a range of yard and flock sizes.
What Could Be Better
- The wire mesh needs reinforcing to be fully predator-proof.
- Some users have found the latch to be poorly designed and many have replaced the door latch completely.
1. Giantex Large Chicken Run
[amazon box=”B07KTTYQPD”]
Key Features
- Size: 10’ x 20’ x 6.5’
- Galvanized steel tube frame
- PVC coated wire mesh
- Waterproof pitched roof
The Giantex large chicken run is the most spacious of all the options and therefore offers the most flexibility for use. The 10’ x 20’ frame is one of the largest on the market whilst also being one of the most competitive in terms of price.
It’s not the cheapest on this list due to its size but in terms of price per square foot, it offers exceptional value. Assembly is still relatively straightforward with this product, though the setup time will be much longer than the two smaller products.
An additional thing to keep in mind with the larger product is that you’ll likely require some additional items to reinforce the whole exterior. Things like ties for the netting, more predator-proof netting, and boundary security will raise the initial cost with this larger product.
What We Liked
- With a size of 10’ x 20’, this run offers the most space at the most affordable price.
- It’s spacious enough for your chickens yet also offers significant room for people as well. This makes it easier for you to move around, clean it, and access the coop whilst also allowing your children to spend some time with the chickens.
- It has a solid metal structure and while you will want to reinforce the wire mesh to make it predator-proof, the overall durability of this product will provide long-term value and longevity.
What Could Be Better
- The netting for the large run is the most tedious aspect and can take a long time to set up. We’ve seen other brands simplify the netting installation to be much quicker during assembly.
- The setup time for this run in general can be quite long and time-consuming. Be prepared to dedicate a few hours when setting it up.
- An option to quickly reduce the size if needed.
Editors Choice
Our pick for the best cheap chicken run is the Giantex small metal chicken run. This product is not only affordable but also simplistic, durable, and easy to set up.
The reason we’d opt for the smaller option is that the 10’ x 13’ size gives enough space for a suitable run whilst also offering some extra space for a coop (depending on the size of your flock).
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The smallest run will be the cheapest (most affordable) option of the three and considering the fact that you are looking for a “cheap” chicken run, this is arguably our main reason for recommending this product.
Just keep in mind that you will need to factor in the size of your flock and coop when considering whether this option is best for you. Chickens need a minimum of 1 sq. foot worth of space each so do the math first before committing to the smallest option.
Final Thoughts
Getting a suitable Chicken Run can not only be a crucial purchase but also an expensive one if you don’t do your research.
Finding a cheap chicken run means that you need to keep certain factors in mind like how solid the material is, how large they are, and most importantly whether or not it’s predator-proof (as not all of them are!).
We’ve covered what we feel are the chicken runs that are the most functional whilst offering the best value for money and the Giantex model is the one that comes out on top.
