Help with run lay out?

[Tracyree]

Coop is up and in place, now need to start planning the run.

The door from the pen is on the back left corner.

How would you lay out the run? I'm only planning 6-8 hens, but would like them to have tons of room.

(ignore the shade cloth, landscaper hung it up to keep sprinkler from spraying chickens while sod takes)

This will be the view coming up from the driveway, so I'd like this side to look the best:

 

[DangerChickenHouse]

I placed my run so I could see my chickens when walking towards the coop and/or from my house. I also kept it in the shade because the NC summers are HOT!

 

[bryan99705]

Beautiful set up.

I would suggest you go with electric fence and make a large surround for the birds so they are not concentrated in one area and kill the grass. You can set up EF in a few hours (they even have a solar charger option) and if you use the pre-insulated step-in posts you can easily relocate it if a certain area is getting too torn up by the birds. I suggest 4 strands of the poly braid wire they have now so you can see it and not accidently walk into it. Set the bottom wire about 3-4 inches off the ground (the dirt, not the grass), the 2nd strand about 3-4 inches above the 1st, the 3rd strand should divide the remaining space to the top of the post and top strand as high as the post allows. With this and a charger rated at 5-6joules you should be able to turn away any critter but birds.

Don't worry about the child I saw in the picture, if she doesn't listen and touches the wire, it will NOT burn her, just scare her with the jolt. If you birds insist on walking thru the EF, you can lay deer netting on it to block them into the safe area.