As an accompaniment to the chicken coop we just built, @CO and I built a raised bed garden with an integrated chicken run!
The design started in SOLIDWORKS where we used weldments functionality to model the garden walls and grow beds.
Then we prebuilt large wall sections in the garage before carrying them out to the yard to assemble. We made sure to get everything level and square before we started to attach the protective wire fencing. The product we used to keep the chickens safe from predators is 1/2" x 1" welded hardware cloth. It's really tough stuff, and we opted for a PVC coated version that will stand up even better to the elements. The black color also helps it disappear from view a bit, so you can see the chickens, the garden, and the coop much better. To keep the coop safe in high winds, we secured it in place using earth anchors. These cool devices get augured into the ground and then attached to the structure using lag screws.
We used composite decking as flooring for the raised beds, and T1-11 as siding. A layer of landscape fabric holds the soil in place and creates an air gap between it and the T1-11.
As finishing touches, we trimmed everything out with PVC molding. It's a great product that will stand up nicely to the elements and doesn't require painting.
Check out the full video to see how the project came together:
