Overwhelmed!

Although not a newbie, it's been a couple of decades since we've kept chickens. I came here for a refresher.
Many people have good advice. I've found great suggestions on various topics to resolve issues I remember from the past and to help simplify things.
Don't use this forum as your only resource of information. Do your own research and think about your own needs as well. If it's too complicated you won't want to deal with it.
Have fun and good luck.

 

Make sure you use a food grade/safe paint. Also make sure that any gaps to the outside, including any ventilation, is cover with half inch or smaller hardware cloth or similar (chicken wire will not do, gaps are too large).

Here's a basic list of things the coop & run will need, anything else is optional.

https://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-care/chapter-5-chicken-coop-requirements.aspx

 

So what's a good "food grade/safe paint" and why, specifically, would one need to make sure one uses that rather than a good exterior paint?

 

Regular exterior paint is fine for the exterior, but for the interior you want something that's non toxic. Non food grade paint can off-gas and be toxic in a confined space. Your hardware store or wherever you choose to buy your paint can point you in the right direction.

 

Ask at whichever store you buy paint for their NoVOC or LowVOC paint. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds and is the stuff that off gases and gives paint a smell. Pretty much all paint brands sell low or no VOC paint in both their exterior and interior paints. I use Olympic from Lowes but there are several out there.

 

Could you possibly put shutters on hinges on the outside that can be closed or opened as necessary from the outside?

ETA: The roost themself can be put on hinges to lift and latch out of the way. Not only would it give you access to the windows, it would give you access to underneath the roost for easy cleaning.

 

I purposely did not put the roost/poopboard by the windows to avoid drafts. It wouldn't be a problem in a warm climate though, but here in OH the cold wind blows!

 

These things are really easy to over-think, I can be bad about that myself. The roosts will be fine along a back wall away from the window. An important factor in setting up a coop is to make it convenient for you. In many ways the chickens don’t really care. There is no reason to make life any harder for you than it has to be.