Coop and run recommendations

[littlepeckers16]

Hi there, new to BYC and also raising chickens. I drew up a couple plans (super rough lol) for a coop that my dad, husband and I have all been working on. We have 15 hens and live in an area that gets pretty hot in the summers. So heres some features of the coop...5 nesting boxes all with individual doors that can open from the outside, 2 sets of henged nesting bars that can be hooked up out of the way for cleanup as well as a long skinny door (lockable flap) along the floor that goes the length of the coop to hopefully make cleanup easier. The run is where i feel it gets a little dicey...we used chain link, but did not bury it in the dirt and as of right now theres nothing covering the top. Im home during the day and outside with kids a lot....i feel like the coop is pretty protected as it sits off the ground and is locked up well. Is my run and coop sufficient as is? Or are there any other things im overlooking? Also any preference on pelletts vs pine shavings? ive used pellets and theyre ok i guess .Any suggestions amd tips much appreciated. Having a hard time figuring out how to post some pics here, but it is in galleries The Coopacabana

 

[Swurts]

Hello! Newbie here too! I think your plan sounds great! I do have two suggestions. 1 Cover the top with something,anything. I didn't think I would need anything either since my kids and I are outside pretty anytime it's nice out. I went inside to help my daughter change, maybe 15 minutes, and a hawk killed one of my chicks and a hen. It was awful! 2. Consider using sand in the run. I read a lot about it before I did and I haven't had to clean much at all. I put some mesh over a pitch fork and use it like a big litter scoop. Fast and easy with no smell at all.
Hope this helps!

 

[littlepeckers16]

Swurts Awesome....that's great to know because that was exactly my thinking. I have seen some hawks out here lately. What a great idea with mesh over the pitch fork, definitely gonna try that out with the sand. Thank you very much