Building run question on what wood sizes, etc.

[Stormy]

We will be building the 20' x 10' run this weekend. Using 4x4's on all corners. Buying a wooden screen door and putting hardware cloth over it. Using hardware cloth on the sides and over the top of run. Going to use sand on the ground in the run.
Here is my question:

What to use for the fram on the run on the bottom.....2x4's? (treated). Or 1x6's.?

Also how far apart would you put the 4x4's if using hardware cloth? We are putting the 2x4 on the top and another running horizontally along the middle of the run so we can screw in the hardware cloth.

I realize we need 4x4 posts on all four corners. Also a 4x4 where we are putting the people-door. Can we use 2x4's in between the long 20' sides instead of another 4x4? Would you put the 2x4's at the bottom or 1x6's?

I understand that the hardware cloth comes 48" x 100'. We plan to build the run to the height of about 6.5. perhaps 7'. So would you dig a foot under and then another foot out for the apron on the hardware cloth along the perimeter?

Any suggestions? Ideas? Input?

 

[PapaChaz]

if you're buying any of your supplies at Home Depot, ours here has 'corral boards', which are 1x6x16 and pressure treated. Another option would be 5/4 (which are actually 1" thick) deck boards. Make sure if it's going to touch the ground it's pressure treated to prevent termite infestation

for your apron, there's really no need to dig down and bury it. Just attach it to the bottom of the run, lay it flat on the ground and make an apron surrounding the run. don't forget to go past the ends and get the corners! stake it down on the outside edge with landscape cloth staples. The grass will grow up through it and you'll never see it. Some will cover it with mulch and plant things along their run. But there's really no need to dig down and bury it. I'd prefer a predator hit it and quit it before they dig a hole I have to go fill in anyway

 

[21hens-incharge]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/tailfeather-cottage
This coop has a lot of pictures if not all the measurements of how they built their run.

You will find days and days worth of reading here
https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/2/Coops

I think you need to put a post at least every 8 foot for the run. At 10 feet wide you will probably need some framing above to keep the hardware cloth from sagging as well.
My run is 16x20 and I have posts every 8 foot but I used chain link on my run since I already had it.

 

[Stormy]

Thank you both of you for your quick replies! Very helpful!

 

[PapaChaz]

my run is 10x22, I did mine with cattle panels covered in hardware cloth. My framework is actually pressure treated 2x12. I used that because they needed to be able to stand up to the outward force of the cattle panels after they were joined together: