It all began 5 years ago in March of 2013, when I begin replacing a row of red tip photinia bushes marking the northern property line of my place. The two previous summer droughts had killed off almost all of the trees, so I decided to pull them up and build a privacy fence in their place. While I was planning the fence, I started researching back yard chickens, and decided now is the time -- I can construct the fence as part of the chicken run and build a coop.
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June 2013
I got the picket fence built on the property line. I put up an 8 foot high fence, so it can double as the northern boundary of the chicken run. I started by installing 4x4 post -- setting them in concrete 40 inches deep and 8 feet apart:
Once I got the top two cross members in, I used my X748 John Deere garden tractor and my tiller to dig-out in-between the post so I can bury welded wire. That should keep critters from digging under the fence and getting my chickens.
The tiller worked pretty good. Just had to take a shovel and clean out the loose dirt:
I installed the wire, and curved it to the outside so if a critter digs down next to the fence, they will hit the wire:
Then I added a row of buried bricks, just to make it harder to dig under:
The wire was installed in the last 6 sections, which was originally planned to be the chicken run:
With the wire installed, I continued installing the pickets, to finish the privacy element of the fence:
So the chicken run has on its north border an 8 foot high picket fence with 4 feet of welded wire on the inside:
I installed the end posts of the chicken run's south side. This will be a welded wire fence to keep the girls safe, and allow us to watch them from the back porch. Originally, I planned on a run that is 8 foot wide by 48 foot long (384 square feet):
I will build the coop on that end in the shade. This picture was taken at 4:30 PM, so as the day heats up the coop will have plenty of shade. Here is the "coop’s view" of where the run will be:
I installed some solar power accent lights on each post. Kind of gives it a nice affect after dark:
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August 2013
I’m made progress on the project. After finishing the privacy fence construction, I started working on setting the post for the chicken run:
Next came burying the lines. I am running water, electricity, Cat 5 (internet) cable and compressed air to the coop:
Yep, my girls will have their very own internet café. And I figure 140 PSI compressed air will be handy for blowing out the coop at cleaning time.
I then set the post for the coop. I used 4x6’s and buried them 40 inches in concrete:
The string you see in this picture (around the post) mark where I will add fill to raise and level the ground. Since this is the lower part of the yard (and in the flood plain) I figured I better raise the coop up off of the ground and fill in underneath to redirect the rain run-off.
I cut the post to 18 inches above the fill line, and will use the underside of the coop for more additional run area:
I installed the hardware cloth before adding the fill, and used road base for the fill so it would pack in real tight under the coop, and if a critter gets past the hardware cloth, trying to dig though road base will be its worst nightmare:
______________________________
June 2013
I got the picket fence built on the property line. I put up an 8 foot high fence, so it can double as the northern boundary of the chicken run. I started by installing 4x4 post -- setting them in concrete 40 inches deep and 8 feet apart:
Once I got the top two cross members in, I used my X748 John Deere garden tractor and my tiller to dig-out in-between the post so I can bury welded wire. That should keep critters from digging under the fence and getting my chickens.
The tiller worked pretty good. Just had to take a shovel and clean out the loose dirt:
I installed the wire, and curved it to the outside so if a critter digs down next to the fence, they will hit the wire:
Then I added a row of buried bricks, just to make it harder to dig under:
The wire was installed in the last 6 sections, which was originally planned to be the chicken run:
With the wire installed, I continued installing the pickets, to finish the privacy element of the fence:
So the chicken run has on its north border an 8 foot high picket fence with 4 feet of welded wire on the inside:
I installed the end posts of the chicken run's south side. This will be a welded wire fence to keep the girls safe, and allow us to watch them from the back porch. Originally, I planned on a run that is 8 foot wide by 48 foot long (384 square feet):
I will build the coop on that end in the shade. This picture was taken at 4:30 PM, so as the day heats up the coop will have plenty of shade. Here is the "coop’s view" of where the run will be:
I installed some solar power accent lights on each post. Kind of gives it a nice affect after dark:
______________________________
August 2013
I’m made progress on the project. After finishing the privacy fence construction, I started working on setting the post for the chicken run:
Next came burying the lines. I am running water, electricity, Cat 5 (internet) cable and compressed air to the coop:
Yep, my girls will have their very own internet café. And I figure 140 PSI compressed air will be handy for blowing out the coop at cleaning time.
I then set the post for the coop. I used 4x6’s and buried them 40 inches in concrete:
The string you see in this picture (around the post) mark where I will add fill to raise and level the ground. Since this is the lower part of the yard (and in the flood plain) I figured I better raise the coop up off of the ground and fill in underneath to redirect the rain run-off.
I cut the post to 18 inches above the fill line, and will use the underside of the coop for more additional run area:
I installed the hardware cloth before adding the fill, and used road base for the fill so it would pack in real tight under the coop, and if a critter gets past the hardware cloth, trying to dig though road base will be its worst nightmare:
Much of this can be planned for before building, some comes later, some will not apply to your situation. I was on a fairly large property with lots of variety to the weather. You've likely thought of all these things, but you asked. 
