Run dimensions, coop positioning, & predator protection

[mitsi]

Hello,
I will be building my first ever coop/run this summer in anticipation of getting chicks next spring. I am planning for a maximum of 4 birds at a time (getting 3 to start with, with the option to introduce 2 more at a time if something happens to one of them). I live in Minnesota in a semi-urban setting (along a park), so both snow and predators (possum, fox, occasional coyote) are considerations. Because of that, I'm planning to build along the north end of my 12x20ft garden. Hens will have access to the garden when I'm home and the weather is nice, but will be in the run for the majority of the time in reality.
For the run: I'm planning on 5'x12' running alongside my garden. Is this too narrow? It will be eaten into by a raised coop (planning 4x5, 30" off the ground with space to roam below) and the framing, so in practice the useable area will be smaller and narrower. I'm unfortunately not able to go a whole lot wider with a permanent structure due to pipelines that run through my property and restrictions on having open ground above them. I could look for a different location if needed, but this would be easiest to give them garden access.
Regarding the garden: I'm planning on Orpingtons, and my beds are all 2' raised beds. Am I asking for disaster on that being added free-range space for them?
Regarding the coop: it would back up to our privacy fence along our fenceline, but not attached to the fence. Am I asking for predators with having the fence that's so easily climbable so close to the coop? I'm picturing a determined possum sitting on the fence support and as a result having plenty of energy to gnaw it's way through the wood & siding of the coop. I've been learning a lot about predator behavior, but I'm not sure if I'm being overly worried about this issue specifically.
Thank you, everyone!!

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

Hello,
I will be building my first ever coop/run this summer in anticipation of getting chicks next spring. I am planning for a maximum of 4 birds at a time (getting 3 to start with, with the option to introduce 2 more at a time if something happens to one of them). I live in Minnesota in a semi-urban setting (along a park), so both snow and predators (possum, fox, occasional coyote) are considerations. Because of that, I'm planning to build along the north end of my 12x20ft garden. Hens will have access to the garden when I'm home and the weather is nice, but will be in the run for the majority of the time in reality.
For the run: I'm planning on 5'x12' running alongside my garden. Is this too narrow? It will be eaten into by a raised coop (planning 4x5, 30" off the ground with space to roam below) and the framing, so in practice the useable area will be smaller and narrower. I'm unfortunately not able to go a whole lot wider with a permanent structure due to pipelines that run through my property and restrictions on having open ground above them. I could look for a different location if needed, but this would be easiest to give them garden access.
Regarding the garden: I'm planning on Orpingtons, and my beds are all 2' raised beds. Am I asking for disaster on that being added free-range space for them?
Regarding the coop: it would back up to our privacy fence along our fenceline, but not attached to the fence. Am I asking for predators with having the fence that's so easily climbable so close to the coop? I'm picturing a determined possum sitting on the fence support and as a result having plenty of energy to gnaw it's way through the wood & siding of the coop. I've been learning a lot about predator behavior, but I'm not sure if I'm being overly worried about this issue specifically.
Thank you, everyone!!

Welcome!
Please post pictures of the area where you plan to build your coop.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would want to go wider but if that's the width of the space then that's what you have to work with.

If you have raised beds and don't mind the chickens tearing them up, then that's no problem. Otherwise chickens LOVE raised beds and 2' walls are not an issue for them to hop over. I did keep raised beds IN my chicken run for a couple of years but even with them fenced off with 4' chicken wire the chickens still made it in a few times.

With the privacy fence, how tall is it? If it's a taller fence I wouldn't be too concerned about a predator sitting on it to reach the chickens, though it could provide an avenue for them to vault into the run if the run isn't covered (you didn't mention if it would be covered).

And are you allowed to build close to the fence (you didn't specify how close)? Is this a shared fence on the property line? If you are allowed to build close to the fence/property line will there be enough space between fence and chicken set up to let you do maintenance between the two?

 

[mitsi]

I would want to go wider but if that's the width of the space then that's what you have to work with.

If you have raised beds and don't mind the chickens tearing them up, then that's no problem. Otherwise chickens LOVE raised beds and 2' walls are not an issue for them to hop over. I did keep raised beds IN my chicken run for a couple of years but even with them fenced off with 4' chicken wire the chickens still made it in a few times.

With the privacy fence, how tall is it? If it's a taller fence I wouldn't be too concerned about a predator sitting on it to reach the chickens, though it could provide an avenue for them to vault into the run if the run isn't covered (you didn't mention if it would be covered).

And are you allowed to build close to the fence (you didn't specify how close)? Is this a shared fence on the property line? If you are allowed to build close to the fence/property line will there be enough space between fence and chicken set up to let you do maintenance between the two?

Thank you for the reply! That's good to know about the garden beds. We'll look closely at other options to get them extra movement and enrichment when possible. I know chickens are livestock, but their quality of life is very important to me.
The run will be fully roofed with shingles, so I'm not worried about animal access from above.
The fence is set back from the property line to where we can put a shed/coop (same rules in my town for both) right up against it and is our own. We were intentional about it being fully on our property by a few feet when we built. 1) It makes decisions about maintaining it easier, and 2) it meant that the utility pole is accessed without going into my garden.
Thinking about maintenance access though, I think I will set the coop and run an additional 2 feet from the fence. That'll stop any predator easy access over time and will help with maintenance as well as you'd pointed out.
Thank you!!!

 

[mitsi]

Welcome!
Please post pictures of the area where you plan to build your coop.

The coop will go on the left side of the garden in this photo. I'll lose some of the length (left to right) of the garden and the low bed within the garden would have to go. The coop and run would be eating up 3 feet of the garden and taking up two feet outside of it to the left. Then would run from our permanent fence to the close edge of the garden (is 15feet, so I'm now thinking I'll set the run a few feet from the permanent fence). The low bed on the far left of this photo outside of the garden fence is asparagus, so doesn't need robust or frequent access. The coop would go about a foot and a half to the right of that bed, which should be enough for exterior maintenance as-needed, I think.