New Coop Progress

[50-45-1]

The Hardware cloth and plexiglass plan sounds good!
The elivated nest box may be a problem as chickens naturally seek the highest place to roost for the night, because its safer.
If your nest box is high up, they may choose to sleep there and that will results in poop on the place where eggs are laid. Then nasty eggs.
Just an fyi.
It seems you are off to a good start!

 

[KyCoop]

Plant a couple of dogwood bushes for shade and hiding places. Its great that it will be covered with wire, but they will still want to run for cover.
They will need a covered area to get out of the rain besides the coop. Maybe like a lean to off the side of the coop.

 

[JenWatts]

Plant a couple of dogwood bushes for shade and hiding places. Its great that it will be covered with wire, but they will still want to run for cover.
They will need a covered area to get out of the rain besides the coop. Maybe like a lean to off the side of the coop.

I'm trying to find which dogwood you're talking about. Most variety grow too tall. Do you mean the red twig?

 

[21hens-incharge]

I think dogwood can be trimmed to stay shorter.
They are likely to nibble on anything planted inside the run.

Personally I like the idea of "run in" type shelters.

 

[KyCoop]

Yes, the red twig is what I have. I keep th bottom trimmed back so it makes more of an umbrella shape. You will have to protect the base so they don't dig it up. Mine are 2 yrs old and the girls LOVE them.
They do get big so maybe just 1 would do.

 

[Imataken]

I'm not sure about the wire for the top. My run is 20 by 30ft we ended up putting metal roofing I'm in NJ so we do occasionally get snow rain is another story we get tons of rain so a roof ended up not only keeping my run from a muddy mess but also protects my chickens from the elements. When we get really bad weather we have roll down tarps on all sides of the run to help with the wind snow ect. When it's not stormy we roll them back up. I also think having the roofed run helps in the summer months when it's 90 to 100 out the run has shade from the sun.

 

[JenWatts]

I bought a deer stand/shoot house that will need customization. And I'm building a 24x24 run around it, inside my fenced backyard. I'm putting hardware cloth on the sides and galvanized fence ontop.
Building a nestbox, I think, will be the most difficult part. Thoughts?
I have a little time. The chicks are approx 4 days old.

We moved them in! Still need to customize the coop, but at least they are out of my house