Chicken Run Advice (pictures inside)

[Chickenshht]

5 nests would accommodate about 20 birds.
Putting a fake egg in each nest will help 'spread the love'.
12" of roost length per bird.
How big is the coop?
Do you get much snow there?
4' high fence might keep the birds in, especially if the top edge is floppy and you keep trees away from run walls, the chicken wire may not keep predators out.

The coop is 10’ x 4.5’ we have it raised off the ground by 6” we are going to put 1/4” hardware cloth stapled from the base 18” out and backfill with road base to keep the predators out of the coop which itself is a fortress. I guess I could consider raising the fencing up another 2’? Do you think that would do it?

I have 12” plus of roosting space per bird (plus extra for chicken math lol) I plan to put a few roosting spots in the run as I hear that’s good too; maybe some stumps or something..

 

[aart]

I guess I could consider raising the fencing up another 2’? Do you think that would do it?

It would be better for sure.

I plan to put a few roosting spots in the run as I hear that’s good too; maybe some stumps or something..

Don't put them too high near the fence.
Here's some ideas:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Chickenshht]

5 nests would accommodate about 20 birds.
Putting a fake egg in each nest will help 'spread the love'.
12" of roost length per bird.
How big is the coop?
Do you get much snow there?
4' high fence might keep the birds in, especially if the top edge is floppy and you keep trees away from run walls, the chicken wire may not keep predators out.

here’s the run I flagged it for birds

 

[rosemarythyme]

Personally concerned about the chicken wire for a fence, so consider your predators and predator load.

 

[Chickenshht]

Personally concerned about the chicken wire for a fence, so consider your predators and predator load.

We have mostly aerial predators here - I was going to reinforce the top line with more 2x6 would that help ?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hard to say if the line you have in place will work sufficiently for aerial predators. I've seen similar set ups (some using shiny things like aluminum or CDs) but I don't have experience with those to be able to say if they will or won't work.

 

[mailmamm]

Luckily here we get very little snow most years none at all but absolutely will have to consider it regardless for those times we do I hadn’t even thought about that ! Thank you

I live in Washington state and get about the same snow you do. My hens like being in any weather but when we got snow it took out the netted roof of my small run. Snow can be heavy.

 

[viggo63]

I know someone who had 6" high chicken wire with strings across the top, predators still got in and took the birds. Better safe than sorry.

 

[aart]

I was going to reinforce the top line with more 2x6 would that help ?

A 2x6 along the top of CW?
No, won't help with preds, might also lure the birds to jump up and go over.