We are setting some up now. Most runs will be 6'x20' for 4 Silkie & Polish with one roo. If sales are good for these, will add a couple more hens.
Runs are 6'x 40' for same number of heavies.
Use 1" poultry wire on top of 2"x4"x 3' high welded wire fencing.
Coops are 3'x7.5' X 5' high. Hardware cloth coop floors 18" off the ground. Inside height - 3.5'.
Rear, OSB. Ends, 1/2 OSB doors and 1/2 Hdwe cloth. Front - 1/2 OSB, 1/2 hdwe cloth. Have OSB panels to place on floors and hardware cloth sides for extremely cold weather.
Metal roofs are flat. Metal can get HOT, but I am blessed with huge Oak trees and all are in the shade. If one has no shade, I would recommend roof be OSB and asphalt shingles. Bend the corners down on the metal roofing - that stuff is sharp if you bump into the corner.
Use the light weight (cheap) steel fence posts and ZIP tie the coop legs to the posts, and wire or ZIP tie the coops to the fence.
Birds exit the coop on one end. Replace feed, water and gather eggs on other end. Do the inside work BEFORE putting on the sides.DUH!
Use 2x4 treated lumber, ripped into 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" square boards for about all of it.
Been using screws but takes too long. Others will be nailed with nail gun with triangle OSB braces nailed to corners. Much faster and stronger.
Now, the hens better make their investment into this project or into the oven.
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