One of the most important factors that you need to consider when choosing a chicken run is how suitable the materials are.
Ideally, a chicken run will be a solid structure that not only gives your chickens space to roam around freely without the possibility of them escaping but also one that stops anything else from getting inside (mainly predators).
Most of the modern runs on the market are wooden structures that are designed to complement a wooden coop. These are good designs in terms of aesthetic appeal but they are all less weather-resistant and high maintenance as a result.
A better option that you might be looking for is therefore a metal structure. Metal chicken runs offer a solid structure, are easier to assemble, and are also low maintenance.
In this article, we cover what you should look for (key considerations) when choosing a metal chicken run and review what we feel are some of the best products on the market.
Table of Contents
Do Chickens Need a Run
While chickens do not necessarily need a dedicated run, many owners have them for a few reasons:
- They offer a safe and dedicated place for your chickens to forage, get daily exercise, and get fresh air/vitamin D.
- They prevent any adventurous chickens (flight risks) from escaping. As you probably already know, chickens can easily clear a 4ft-5ft fence so an enclosed run helps to eliminate this.
- They protect your chickens from predators. Regardless of where you are based geographically, predators in some form will be local to your area and a sealed/secured run is almost essential for allowing your chickens to roam freely and safely.
- Chickens will typically eat anything and everything whilst also being quite messy in the process. A dedicated area keeps your chickens away from well-maintained lawns and prized vegetable/flower patches.
- A set area makes it easy to clean up after your chickens and keep their environment fresh. It also makes it much easier to round them up into the coop at the end of the day.
Some coops will come with included runs and some owners choose to build their own. When buying a brand new run though, there are some factors that you need to take into consideration before making a purchase.
What to Look for in a Chicken Run
Not all chicken runs are made equally, while the build material is often a deciding factor, the fact that you’ve landed on this article means that you’ve already decided on the material that you want.
There are therefore a few other factors that you will want to consider when choosing a suitable run:
Size – The size of the run you need will typically be decided by the number of chickens that you own. A general guideline is that you need a minimum of 1 sq. meter space per hen.
As this is a minimum requirement, you should multiply this by your number of chickens to give you your minimum size requirements.
For those that have an abundance of space, you can choose the size based on how much of your yard you want to dedicate to your chickens, for those with a smaller yard you should definitely keep this number in mind to ensure the chickens have the minimum requirement of space that they need.
Assembly – Depending on the design and complexity of the structure, some runs will require multiple people to assemble it and in some cases, they will even require professional installation.
When purchasing a run, pay careful attention to the assembly guidelines and make sure it’s something you will be able to put together securely.
Surrounding area – The frame for the run is only one aspect of the finished product. You will also need to take into consideration the ground in and around the run. Most runs can still be susceptible to predators digging underneath and getting inside so properly sealing your run is essential.
Most people will dig a trench around the run and install a layer of mesh or wire fencing and then refill the trench afterward. You can also pave around the run or add some kind of border to deter any predators from even attempting to get in.
Top 3 Metal Chicken Run
3. Giantex Small Chicken Run
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.
The proportionately large door offers an easy entry into the run and is ideal for managing a small flock. The assembly is easy with this product and one person should be comfortable doing it in just a few hours.
The structure is solid and while you will need to further reinforce the wire mesh to make it fully predator-proof, it’s not a large enough run for this to be a significant cost or hassle.
What We Liked
- The small size is still relatively large compared with other “small” runs yet offers the additional space inside.
- This is one of the more affordable metal runs on the market.
- The easy assembly is also backed up by a good customer service team.
What Could Be Better
- This run is not as sturdy as the larger options and would need reinforcing to protect it against larger predators.
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 Giantex medium chicken run at a size of 13’ x 13’ is a product we like because of the flexibility it offers. It’s large (though not so large it will take up all of your yard) and it gives users enough space for a coop, flock, and themselves.
Again, the galvanized tubing is solid and the quick connecting poles allow for relatively easy setup. A powder coating finish would however be a welcome addition to make the poles truly weatherproof and rust-resistant though.
The weatherproof cover offers the ideal coverage with this product and covers a better portion of the run in comparison to the small and larger models. This keeps your chickens sheltered when the weather is bad but also allows them enough space to bask in the sun.
What We Liked
- A weatherproof cover offers enough shelter for your chickens from the rain/sun whilst also being open enough to bask in the sun when they want to.
- A comfortable size that doesn’t take up too much of a yard but is also spacious enough for you and your chickens to fit into.
- Quick connecting poles for easy assembly.
What Could Be Better
- A more predator-proof wire mesh.
- Powder coating on the frame to make it completely weatherproof.
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 large metal run from Giantex is a huge option for those that have either a larger yard or larger flock and need a dedicated area to house them. Measuring in at 10’ x 20’ x 6.5’, this is easily one of the largest runs on the market and is the easier solution than building a custom DIY run to house larger flocks.
You’ll appreciate that the galvanized steel tubing is not only easy to assemble but is also low maintenance. This is crucial when making a purchase of this size as you don’t want substantially more maintenance as a result.
One downside we do need to point out is that predator-proofing this run fully could add more upfront cost as a result of the overall larger frame so this is something to keep in mind.
What We Liked
- This run is huge and can easily cater to a large flock.
- The galvanized steel tubing is durable and low maintenance with is crucial considering the larger frame size.
What Could Be Better
- Additional weatherproof covers would be needed. The cover on the larger run covers a smaller sq. foot area than the smaller runs do and would therefore offer less protection from the sun, rain, or snow
- The large size means that you will need to spend more money reinforcing the perimeter and side panels
Editors Choice
Our recommendation for the best metal chicken run is the Giantex large metal run. The large model is one of the largest options on the market and will provide ample space for flocks of most sizes.
[amazon box=”B07KTTYQPD” template=”list”]
While the wire mesh will need to be reinforced with this product (which will add an additional upfront cost) the galvanized steel tubing will add long-term longevity to this product and offers a solid structure that is weatherproof and low maintenance.
When looking for an ideal run, you’ll also find that the majority of products on the market are wooden runs, the metal options are quite limited and you’ll therefore struggle to find another product to match the Giantex 10’ x 20’ model whilst also offering a competitive price!
Final Thoughts
Choosing a solid and durable chicken run is a very important consideration, especially for those that live in areas with partially large predators. For this reason, a solid metal chicken run should be one of your top considerations in terms of the run’s material.
Not only are metal runs more solid, weather-resistant, and predator-proof than other materials like wood and DIY builds but they can also come in at an inexpensive and affordable price. This is one of the key reasons why we like Giantex products.
