Need a little coop/run advice

[firewalker1]

Here is my coop that I have been building for the past few weeks. I got 6 chicks, thinking one is a rooster so that will leave me with 5. My original run idea was 5ft wide, 6ft tall and 8ft long. I’m thinking now I will double it to 18ft long. I’ve heard mixed review on chicken wire but there’s no way I can afford $300 or so in hardware cloth to cover. If I cover the run in 2 layers of chicken wire and lock them up in the coop at night will that suffice? We have a dog that patrols the backyard during the day so that should be an issue.
Also, how many vents should I cut in the coop?

The coop is nearly done, just need a few more trim pieces and to paint them. The siding was left over from my house so it matches. The run will be on the right side.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If your dog is pretty active it'll probably be a bigger deterrent than the chicken wire, however has your dog ever met chickens (or other small animals)? How did it do? I'm asking because dogs can definitely get through chicken wire (and hardware cloth and welded wire, if big enough and determined enough).

As far as vents ideally you'd want 1 sq ft per bird but that might not be doable in a smaller coop. Gable vents under the roof peak front and back would be one spot. Are the soffits open under the roof line? That would be another ideal spot, as the roof provides protection.

 

[Birdielee]

Here is my coop that I have been building for the past few weeks. I got 6 chicks, thinking one is a rooster so that will leave me with 5. My original run idea was 5ft wide, 6ft tall and 8ft long. I’m thinking now I will double it to 18ft long. I’ve heard mixed review on chicken wire but there’s no way I can afford $300 or so in hardware cloth to cover. If I cover the run in 2 layers of chicken wire and lock them up in the coop at night will that suffice? We have a dog that patrols the backyard during the day so that should be an issue.
Also, how many vents should I cut in the coop?

The coop is nearly done, just need a few more trim pieces and to paint them. The siding was left over from my house so it matches. The run will be on the right side.

What a beautiful little house! Mine is much more rustic.

 

[firewalker1]

Finished up the trim and installed an automatic door yesterday. Bought hardware cloth to start installing the vents in the gables. My neighbor came over and started talking to me about runs and now I believe I’m going bigger than I thought.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would suggest going wider than the 5'. If bird A takes issue with bird B 5' apart is not enough width.

 

[firewalker1]

I would suggest going wider than the 5'. If bird A takes issue with bird B 5' apart is not enough width.

I didn’t think about that, thank you. After talking to my neighbor I am going to make it about 8ft wide by 16ft long initially and adding onto it later

 

[21hens-incharge]

I didn’t think about that, thank you. After talking to my neighbor I am going to make it about 8ft wide by 16ft long initially and adding onto it later

That sounds like a REALLY great size!

The reason I know 5' is not wide enough is I had 8 pullets in a 5x19 section of my run. One decided she didn't like another and all heck broke loose every time they tried to pass each other.

While pullet squabbles are rare they do happen.

 

[A Creekside Retreat]

Super cute coop! I think its definitely a good idea to go bigger for the run. We built ours out of solid 2x4s for strength and chicken wire. As things appear around town like old metal for roof we’ve covered some of the run to protect from sun & rain