homestead.fyi / RUN-25

25-Bird Covered Run

A covered walk-in run for 25 hens, 31 1/4 x 8 ft, built on 4x4 posts set in the ground and wrapped in hardware cloth, with a metal roof, a hinged door and a skirt laid flat around the outside.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
25Birds
31 1/4 x 8 ftFootprint
250 sq ftRun area
66 to 72 inClear height
30 x 66 inDoor
50 to 80 hrBuild time
~$1,462.30Materials, part estimate

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewfinished
3D view
3D view, framingcloth and roof removed
3D view, framing
Front elevationdoor at the left
Front elevation 375 in 72 in 66 in 29 in
Right elevationroof falls to the back
Right elevation 96 in 66 in 72 in
Plan viewposts and apron
Plan view 375 in 96 in

Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted

QtyStockLengthPartCut
32x4125 3/4Purlin 1.flat, across the rafters
32x4125 3/4Purlin 2.flat, across the rafters
32x4125 3/4Purlin 3.flat, across the rafters
32x4125 3/4Purlin 4.flat, across the rafters
32x4125 3/4Purlin 5.flat, across the rafters
32x4125 3/4Purlin 6.flat, across the rafters
92x4108 1/4Rafterboth ends plumb cut 3.6°
22x459Door stile
22x429Door raillaid flat
12x429Door mid raillaid flat
12x4 PT89Left bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT89Left mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT89Right bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT89Right mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 1 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT43Back bay 1 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 1 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 2 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT43Back bay 2 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 2 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 3 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT43Back bay 3 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 3 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 4 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT43Back bay 4 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 4 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 5 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT43Back bay 5 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 5 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 6 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT43Back bay 6 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 6 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 7 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT43Back bay 7 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 7 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 8 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT43Back bay 8 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT43Back bay 8 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 2 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 2 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 2 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 3 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 3 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 3 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 4 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 4 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 4 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 5 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 5 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 5 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 6 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 6 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 6 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 7 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 7 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 7 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 8 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 8 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 8 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 9 bottom railagainst the posts, ground contact
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 9 mid railagainst the posts
12x4 PT38 3/4Front bay 9 top railagainst the posts
12x4 PT30Front bay 1 headeragainst the posts
104x4 PT89 7/8Front post
94x4 PT84 1/8Back post
16roof108 1/4Roof panelcut to length, lap one rib

Cut list: sheet goods

PartStockSizeNote
Front bay 2 cloth lowcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 2 cloth highcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 3 cloth lowcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 3 cloth highcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 4 cloth lowcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 4 cloth highcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 5 cloth lowcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 5 cloth highcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 6 cloth lowcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 6 cloth highcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 7 cloth lowcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 7 cloth highcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 8 cloth lowcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 8 cloth highcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 9 cloth lowcloth40 3/4 x 0
Front bay 9 cloth highcloth40 3/4 x 0
Back bay 1 cloth lowcloth45 x 0
Back bay 1 cloth highcloth45 x 0
Back bay 2 cloth lowcloth45 x 0
Back bay 2 cloth highcloth45 x 0
Back bay 3 cloth lowcloth45 x 0
Back bay 3 cloth highcloth45 x 0
Back bay 4 cloth lowcloth45 x 0
Back bay 4 cloth highcloth45 x 0
Back bay 5 cloth lowcloth45 x 0
Back bay 5 cloth highcloth45 x 0
Back bay 6 cloth lowcloth45 x 0
Back bay 6 cloth highcloth45 x 0
Back bay 7 cloth lowcloth45 x 0
Back bay 7 cloth highcloth45 x 0
Back bay 8 cloth lowcloth45 x 0
Back bay 8 cloth highcloth45 x 0
Left cloth lowcloth89 x 36
Left cloth highcloth89 x 35 3/4trapezoid, follows the roof
Right cloth lowcloth89 x 36
Right cloth highcloth89 x 35 3/4trapezoid, follows the roof
Door meshcloth28 x 0
Apron front 1cloth213 x 24
Apron front 2cloth213 x 24
Apron back 1cloth213 x 24
Apron back 2cloth213 x 24
Apron leftcloth24 x 99
Apron rightcloth24 x 99

Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim

2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 1.1 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 1.2 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 2.1 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 2.2 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 3.1 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 3.2 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 4.1 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 4.2 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 5.1 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 5.2 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 6.1 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 6.2 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 1.3 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 2.3 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 3.3 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 4.3 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 5.3 125 5/8
2x4 x 12 ft
Purlin 6.3 125 5/8
2x4 x 10 ft
Door stile 1 59Door stile 2 59
2x4 x 10 ft
Rafter 1 108 1/4
2x4 x 10 ft
Rafter 2 108 1/4
2x4 x 10 ft
Rafter 3 108 1/4
2x4 x 10 ft
Rafter 4 108 1/4
2x4 x 10 ft
Rafter 5 108 1/4
2x4 x 10 ft
Rafter 6 108 1/4
2x4 x 10 ft
Rafter 7 108 1/4
2x4 x 10 ft
Rafter 8 108 1/4
2x4 x 10 ft
Rafter 9 108 1/4
2x4 x 8 ft
Door rail 1 29Door rail 2 29Door mid rail 29
2x4 PT x 12 ft
Left bottom rail 89Back bay 1 bottom rail 43
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Left mid rail 89
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Right bottom rail 89
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Right mid rail 89
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Back bay 1 mid rail 43Back bay 1 top rail 43
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Back bay 2 bottom rail 43Back bay 2 mid rail 43
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Back bay 2 top rail 43Back bay 3 bottom rail 43
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Back bay 3 mid rail 43Back bay 3 top rail 43
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Back bay 4 bottom rail 43Back bay 4 mid rail 43
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Back bay 4 top rail 43Back bay 5 bottom rail 43
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Back bay 5 mid rail 43Back bay 5 top rail 43
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Back bay 6 bottom rail 43Back bay 6 mid rail 43
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Back bay 6 top rail 43Back bay 7 bottom rail 43
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Back bay 7 mid rail 43Back bay 7 top rail 43
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Back bay 8 bottom rail 43Back bay 8 mid rail 43
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Back bay 8 top rail 43Front bay 2 bottom rail 38 3/4
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Front bay 2 mid rail 38 3/4Front bay 2 top rail 38 3/4
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Front bay 3 bottom rail 38 3/4Front bay 3 mid rail 38 3/4
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Front bay 3 top rail 38 3/4Front bay 4 bottom rail 38 3/4
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Front bay 4 mid rail 38 3/4Front bay 4 top rail 38 3/4
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Front bay 5 bottom rail 38 3/4Front bay 5 mid rail 38 3/4
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Front bay 5 top rail 38 3/4Front bay 6 bottom rail 38 3/4
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Front bay 6 mid rail 38 3/4Front bay 6 top rail 38 3/4
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Front bay 7 bottom rail 38 3/4Front bay 7 mid rail 38 3/4
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Front bay 7 top rail 38 3/4Front bay 8 bottom rail 38 3/4
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Front bay 8 mid rail 38 3/4Front bay 8 top rail 38 3/4
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Front bay 9 bottom rail 38 3/4Front bay 9 mid rail 38 3/4
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Front bay 9 top rail 38 3/4Front bay 1 header 30
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Front post 1 89 7/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Front post 2 89 7/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Front post 3 89 7/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Front post 4 89 7/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Front post 5 89 7/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Front post 6 89 7/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Front post 7 89 7/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Front post 8 89 7/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Front post 9 89 7/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Front post 10 89 7/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Back post 1 84 1/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Back post 2 84 1/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Back post 3 84 1/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Back post 4 84 1/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Back post 5 84 1/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Back post 6 84 1/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Back post 7 84 1/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Back post 8 84 1/8
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Back post 9 84 1/8
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 1 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 2 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 3 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 4 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 5 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 6 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 7 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 8 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 9 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 10 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 11 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 12 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 13 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 14 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 15 108 1/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 16 108 1/4

Shopping list $1,082.30 checked / $380.00 estimated

ItemStoreQtyEachLineNote
2x4x10 stud, SPFHome Depot10$5.46$54.60see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x12 stud, SPFHome Depot18$7.12$128.16see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x8 stud, SPFHome Depot1$4.15$4.15see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x12 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot1$7.18$7.18see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x8 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot27$4.68$126.36see lumber cutting diagram
4x4x8 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot19$11.28$214.32see lumber cutting diagram
Corrugated metal roof panel, 26 in x 10 ftHome Depot16$23.75$380.00see lumber cutting diagram
Hardware cloth 1/2 in, 2 ft x 25 ft, 19-gaHome Depot9$30.40$273.60uses about 2449 in of the roll
Hardware cloth 1/2 in, 3 ft x 25 ft, 19-gaHome Depot2$38.88$77.76uses about 356 in of the roll
Galvanized 6 in strap hinge, each (5-pack $32.99)Home Depot1$6.60$6.60door
Galvanized staple safety hasp, 3-1/2 inHome Depot1$6.78$6.78door
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb boxHome Depot1$29.97$29.97
Roofing screws #10 x 1-1/2 in with neoprene washer, 200 ctHome Depot8$17.98$143.84
Poultry staples 3/4 in, 1 lbSouthern States2$4.49$8.98
Total before tax~$1,462.30
Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.

Build steps

  1. Mark the corners and the door post. Check square by measuring both diagonals, then dig 19 holes 18 in deep.
  2. Cut the posts: the front posts 90 in and the back posts 84 in, and set them in gravel, tamped and plumb on both faces.
  3. Staple the hardware cloth to the outside of the posts, starting at the ground, then screw the rails over it so every edge of the wire is held under a board.
  4. Screw a rail to the outside of each side wall at the bottom and at 36 in, and do the same for the front and back.
  5. Cut the 9 rafters with plumb cuts at 3.6° on both ends and set them on the post tops with the end rafters over the side walls, toe-screwed to the posts.
  6. Lay 6 purlins flat across the rafters, then screw down the 16 metal panels, lapping one rib.
  7. Staple the side cloth under the end rafters, trimmed to the slope of the roof.
  8. Build the 30 x 66 in door from four 2x4s laid flat with a mid rail, staple cloth inside it, and hang it on strap hinges with a hasp.
  9. Lay the hardware cloth apron flat on the ground around the outside, staple it to the bottom rails and cover it with soil or gravel.

Before you start