We are in the middle of building our chicken run. Our coop is inside a run that is about 16' x 16'. Should the door to the run open in or out or does it matter?
Are you talking about the door from the run to the coop? How much bedding are you going to have in the coop? Chickens can scratch and build it up. If the door opens inward, it needs to be higher than the bedding. Your pop door also needs to be high enough that bedding doesn't fall out.
Are you putting any bedding in the run? If you are any door that opens into the run needs to be higher than the bedding. I typically put a 4" x 6" piece of treated wood to act as a sill at a run door. That stops things going under and allows you to raise the door a bit.
If the door swings inward, you have to leave enough room clear of roots, nests, feed, and water so the door can swing in. If it opens outward you don;t have that issue. Other than that, I don't think it really matters if it swings in or out as long as the bedding doesn't block it.
My husband wants to build the run with half the roof being solid and the other half with only 1/4 hardware cloth. I don't think it is necessary to have the solid roof since the coop is raised off the ground 2 1/2 feet so they can go in the coop or under it for protection from rain or snow. What say you?
A run with a solid roof will help some with rain and sun, but only some. Rain will blow in from the sides. As long as the sun is high it will provide shade but when the sun sinks a bit a lot of heat can shine in from the sides. My 12' x 32' main run is covered about 24 feet with the last 8 feet covered with netting. The covered part will help a lot with rain and shade, but it is not perfect. I personally side with your husband. Covering it will help, especially if it is sloped enough so rainwater runs off. but think what will happen if the western side is open and it gets hot in the afternoon.
Are you talking about the door from the run to the coop? How much bedding are you going to have in the coop? Chickens can scratch and build it up. If the door opens inward, it needs to be higher than the bedding. Your pop door also needs to be high enough that bedding doesn't fall out.
Are you putting any bedding in the run? If you are any door that opens into the run needs to be higher than the bedding. I typically put a 4" x 6" piece of treated wood to act as a sill at a run door. That stops things going under and allows you to raise the door a bit.
If the door swings inward, you have to leave enough room clear of roots, nests, feed, and water so the door can swing in. If it opens outward you don;t have that issue. Other than that, I don't think it really matters if it swings in or out as long as the bedding doesn't block it.
My husband wants to build the run with half the roof being solid and the other half with only 1/4 hardware cloth. I don't think it is necessary to have the solid roof since the coop is raised off the ground 2 1/2 feet so they can go in the coop or under it for protection from rain or snow. What say you?
A run with a solid roof will help some with rain and sun, but only some. Rain will blow in from the sides. As long as the sun is high it will provide shade but when the sun sinks a bit a lot of heat can shine in from the sides. My 12' x 32' main run is covered about 24 feet with the last 8 feet covered with netting. The covered part will help a lot with rain and shade, but it is not perfect. I personally side with your husband. Covering it will help, especially if it is sloped enough so rainwater runs off. but think what will happen if the western side is open and it gets hot in the afternoon.
