Am I a genius or an idiot?

[21hens-incharge]

The most logical would be to build outside the run. Building inside would be difficult to near impossible without taking it completely apart first.

Personally I would build outside the run and then perhaps fence the new coop in adding hot wire to keep bears out.

I know the cost of such so it would be likely out of reach.

If you start gathering pallets get ones that are uniform in size. It will help.

 

[lazy gardener]

If I had your set up, I'd move the existing coop outside of the run, and sheathe that with plywood, add a couple windows, as suggested by other poster. Turn that into a coop. How many birds did you say you wanted max? Would the existing coop allow 4 s.f./bird if the entire thing were turned into a coop? Then, the 10 x 10 run could be covered with 2 x 4 welded mesh, with support posts/beams as necessary. Add shade cloth as needed in summer, perhaps a tarp with angle to allow it to shed water. IMO, turning existing kennel structure would be harder to do than building from scratch. If this old biddy can build stuff, then it's within the capabilities of almost anyone.

 

[Cryss]

If I had your set up, I'd move the existing coop outside of the run, and sheathe that with plywood, add a couple windows, as suggested by other poster. Turn that into a coop. How many birds did you say you wanted max? Would the existing coop allow 4 s.f./bird if the entire thing were turned into a coop? Then, the 10 x 10 run could be covered with 2 x 4 welded mesh, with support posts/beams as necessary. Add shade cloth as needed in summer, perhaps a tarp with angle to allow it to shed water. IMO, turning existing kennel structure would be harder to do than building from scratch. If this old biddy can build stuff, then it's within the capabilities of almost anyone.

The coop is 24.5sf with half that devoted to roosting henhouse and nests. It is really too small for my hoped for future flock. The 10x10 run is already covered with welded 1x2 on all sides AND on top, and with 1/2 inch hardware cloth on all sides starting from the ground and up 4 ft. I've even got a bit-o-tarp over a bit of the run above the coop to prevent rain splashing and getting in the food dispenser.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

If you’re able to put a roof over the run then as long as the chickens are only sleeping in the henhouse and won’t be locked in it if it snows then there will be enough room for them.