Lots of questions about the run and coop

Ain't nuthin' purtier'n any color of Orpington! Docile, uber-friendly, fair producers of nice, large, light brown eggs.

Black Australorps are gorgeous in the sun - the shimmers of blue, green, purple in the black feathers are gorgeous. Better layers than Buff Orps. Mine is very talkative and follows me everywhere, jess a'talking away, gossiping about the rest of the flock.

Barred Rocks are distinctively attractive birds. REALLY good layers.

Look up Concord Feed; there are a couple around thereabouts.

Some people would use bleach to clean an Eglu, some would be satisfied with hot soapy water. I'm in the second camp; I don't have Eglus, but I have used several coop kits.

 

Our first hens were Barred Rocks and Buff Orpingtons. We chose them due to their docile nature because our daughters were both under 12 at the time. They were great hens, docile as expected, large enough to not try and fly over our residential fence, and great layers. After 3 years we decided to swap them out for new hens to keep the egg production up. We now have a Rhode Island Red, a Golden Sex Link, an Ameracauna (Easter Egger), and a Blue Red Laced Wyandotte. The reds are known as good layers and sure enough she was the first to start laying at about 22 weeks. The Golden started laying about a week later and we're still waiting for the other two to start laying. They're about 25 weeks old now.

For "easy hearty chickens" I would go for the Barred Rocks and Orpingtons.

I grew up in Sunnyvale and we had all the predators you mentioned... raccoons, possums, and rats running along the power lines. I think your plans will probably work for predator protection but just be ready to make improvements if needed. I would definitely keep the feed in the garage or securely stored if outside.

And I think soap and water would be fine if the Eglu looks to be in good condition.

 

Good ole' Dawn dish soap and water would be fine on hard plastic.

 

If you really want to disinfect a surface you could always get yourself a spray bottle of hydrogen peroxide. It is a very good disinfectant that only leave water as a by product. It does not corrode metal and penetrates wood well.

Your idea for the side yard might work during the day. It will not it stop a raccoon at night. If it won't be cat proof I'd wait until your chickens are full grown before they are exposed to any cats. Netting will keep hawks from swooping in.

There are a great many friendly chicken breeds out there. It's fun to look on the internet and see what people have to say about them.