Make the run as big as you can with places to get away from any higher ranking hens/rooster.
We elevated our coop 2.5 feet above the ground (in the run) and that turned out to be a good idea. Built in shade and rain protection. The deck we built to access the coop also gives the another level of outdoor area. However, you don’t need to elevate the coop, you can create other things. For example, we have some blocks stacked with a 2x5 piece of plywood on top (it was to shelter the food for the momma hen and her chicks) and certain birds like to hang out between the blocks nestled in the leaves and dirt. Or they hang out on top of this basic structure. Certain others like to perch on the coop deck railings, and the chicks (now 11 weeks old) often hang out in the area under the coop deck stairs since they are lowest in the pecking order! Also, have at least 2 places for the food so no one is kept from eating if they are lowest in pecking order.
We elevated our coop 2.5 feet above the ground (in the run) and that turned out to be a good idea. Built in shade and rain protection. The deck we built to access the coop also gives the another level of outdoor area. However, you don’t need to elevate the coop, you can create other things. For example, we have some blocks stacked with a 2x5 piece of plywood on top (it was to shelter the food for the momma hen and her chicks) and certain birds like to hang out between the blocks nestled in the leaves and dirt. Or they hang out on top of this basic structure. Certain others like to perch on the coop deck railings, and the chicks (now 11 weeks old) often hang out in the area under the coop deck stairs since they are lowest in the pecking order! Also, have at least 2 places for the food so no one is kept from eating if they are lowest in pecking order.
