Beginner coop questions

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I'm plotting out my first coop. My sister and I are going to build it (eek!) so it needs to be fairly simple and straightforward. A few questions first, just to confirm what I think I know. (It seems it's always what I think I know that gets me in trouble.)

- Can four standard size chickens live comfortably in a 4'x4'x4' coop if there is a 4'x8' run attached to it?
- Hardware cloth is better than chicken wire, yes?
- One to two nest boxes is plenty as long as there is a roost in the coop. The next boxes can be a couple of feet off the floor as long as there is a roost on the outside edge so they can land and hop in.
- Chickens will tear up or eat foam insulation, so if I insulate it that way the insulation needs to be covered. Can I cover it with hardware cloth to prevent the pecking?
- If I do the deep litter method, I don't need a seperate roost droppings pit, right?
- I'm planning on hanging the food and water containers to keep them off the floor.
- I need a large door for cleaning purposes, a nest box door and a couple of windows for ventilation. Plus a door from the run for the chickens.

How am I doing? Am I on track so far? What am I forgetting?
Thanks for the help!
CG

 

[blue fire]

I have a 4X4 Chicken hut and it seems small, but it might need to be bigger if you are palnning on putting food and water in there. Just my opinion though. it could work if you had a second floor in the coop.

 

[Yonaton]

4x4x4 might be a little tight, but they'd probably manage well enough.

Hardware cloth is stouter and with only 1/4 inch holes, it's much harder for critters and snakes to defeat and get to the birds.

The birds'll be able to peck the insulation through the hardware cloth, so you'll need to cover it with something solid like some cheap paneling or 1/4 inch plywood.

Everything else sounds pretty good though. Make sure the ventilation will be enough for these hot summer months.

 

[JFL1950]

I plan to do the same thing this weekend but wanted to know what size door they needed? 1'-0" x 1'-0' big enough?
or would you go with 1'-6" high x 1'-6" wide?
I also figure on having a drop door on the back side that opens doen maybe 6" high to push out the old litter from the front door.
have two side windows 1'x1' one windown in the back 6" high x 3'-0" long.
the whole cook is 4' x 4' with 4 nest on the top 1' x 1' each or should i make 3 1'-4" wide x 1'-4" high?
but two perches one 2' off the floor and 1' off the back wall the other 3" in front of the nesting boxes.
If I insulate i'll put it on the outside that should help some with the rain I would think? but I guess if they climb on top they can peck at it?

Ok this is what I build:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2417