When you set your posts how far down did you go and what was their overall length? Also how far were they spaced? I want to do something similar as far as the run goes....
I used 10' 4x4 redwood posts and set them with concrete about 2'+ in the ground. The soffit on the building was almost exactly 8 foot tall from finish grade... The window trim is only about four inches below that.. I knew I wanted some kind of over head protection from aerial predators, so in my mind I had to get the outside posts up high enough so whatever I ended up using wouldn't be strung or mounted across the windows or the window trim.. I'm sure there are lots of other things that I could have done but this made the most sense to me. I ended up buying an aviary netting from Cutler Supply.
The posts are spaced about 8' apart so I could tie them together with 8' 2x4s at the top. I've built a lot of fences for myself, family and friends and this is how I've always done it.
I used 8' 1x8s as the skirt around the bottom to retain the sand I plan on adding to the run.
Also, I buried the hardware cloth about a foot down and about 12 - 18".
Hope that helps. Good luck with your project.
Maybe a dumb question, but why set posts? Coops are heavy, they aren't going anywhere. Not setting the posts give you options to move and grow and change. Just a thought.
That's a great question.
I was/am very concerned about the predators where I live. I knew I wanted to invest in quality birds and consider it my responsibility to keep them safe. I built it so they would be well protected.
I did think about expansion.. I couldn't grow the run any wider than the 12' that I have. I left room for planting vines and making walkways around the perimeter.
It's funny.. I actually already expanded the run twice right when I started digging the first post holes.. Originally the run was only going to be 12'x8' and house just a couple hens.
BYC is a bit addicting and there are just so many beautiful breeds available.. I figured while the string lines were up, I would just make it a bit bigger... and then bigger yet again. I even ran extra pvc (water) and conduit (electrical) out to the end when I buried the hardware cloth.. just in case.
Plus I can still set more posts at 8' intervals and expand it by going longer with the run... It will always be 12' wide, but I can go an additional 24' - 30' before the ground starts to slope downward. I even considered sectioning off at the 8' posts with chicken wire to build small breeding pens/runs that would be 8' x 12'. .. I hope my wife doesn't read this.
Hope that helps you understand where my head was with all this.