You could move the coop to the outside and connect it with a tunnel to the run,3 side plywood and 1 side wire. This would free up space in the run and keep you from getting poopy feet when collecting eggs. Add some branches and perches in the run hang the water and food will keep it cleaner. I use a tunnel and it has worked greatWell, we were able to finish our run and put the coop inside it to stay out of the weather for now. We realize it's temporary until we decide what else to do for a coop. We will most likely build something that attaches to the run or is elevated inside it. We want to have access to the nest box outside the run, so that will be part of the plan. I posted another thread about my easter egger cockerel. It's really obvious now that it's a male and we plan to find him a new home. I already have the number of a woman who takes cockerels about 45 min from me. She says she free ranges over 1000 chickens. That will reduce my number to 3 birds. Also, I took out everything in the coop, including the ramp, which is being used as a temporary access to the coop. I know I need a wider and longer one for the height of the coop. We now have food and water outside the coop in the run with the pop door removed so they can get in and out whenever they want to. We currently have the nest box closed off from the coop with cardboard. The lid on the outside allows easy access. Also, we added cedar fence boards to 3 exterior sides of the coop for extra weather protection, but we agree that it's really not that weather proof. We had to finish this project so we could leave town to visit family for Christmas. My birds are in good hands with a neighborhood friend who owns chickens, too.
