Seemed simple but the more I know.......

Pics
Yeah, when I set mine up, I plan to sit it on 3 ft hardware cloth, with 2 feet outside and 1 inside, just so it doesn't slip off in time. I'm hoping not to have to dig a trench to sink it into the ground... hoping just laying there will do the job. I'll put hardware cloth about 2 ft up each side, too, and I know I'll have to fill in those openings between the panels and at the door. This is going to be a "project", not an event.
Do you think it's necessary to cover the roof?? Are the holes big enough for hawks and critters to get it? I'm betting possums might. 🤔. Chicken wire might be strong enough for that. If I do cover the roof, I'll put it on the outside. That way and animals can't make it cave in with its weight. SO MUCH to consider. My brain is spinning like a gerbil wheel, LOL
Thanks for the warning about the truck. I have a friend who can get it in his pick-up truck, so I will follow your advice and have it sent to the store. Can't get a semi in my yard either. I couldn't even get a dump truck in to deliver my garden mulch, so I "get it".
Good to have someone with similar issues, to think things through with. Thanks for that!!
PS, I saw on FB today, someone had the sentinel coop and it had been broken into by a predator. Whatever did it pushed hard on the wiring of the run and caused the welds of the mesh to fail and push away from the metal supports.. If the designers had put the welded wire on the OUTSIDE of the metal legs, that would not have happened.
the chickens are nowhere near the roof panels, I just want to keep the elements out, rain mostly. I am considering this in progress. So far half of the roof is covered and it. works.
As far as the dig apron is concerned, the cloth I bought was maybe 30 inches wide. I bend some up, and left about 2 feet on the ground and connected it with the structure
I need to take some more pictures tomorrow maybe.
I feel that having the wired cloth down on the inside minimizes the space the chickens have to do their thing, which is scratching. My ladies have laid waste to the vegetation in their run. If I could simply move it, it would look funny, having an 8x8 bare spot in the yard! )
 
Ken please do consider getting chickens. With your medical background you will do fine . I started my journey with an oversized coop and run and flock of 5 and never had an issue until one hen suddenly died last year. There were warning signs of her being ill but I never got to her soon enough. Some just have weak systems like people. But all in all it's been a great experience. And I agree most folks on here don't have medical background so there's extra drama just like at hospital ER's.
I'd stay away from flocks from unreliable places re.
a neighbor, rescue, side of road, etc.
I have a raised coop so chickens can get under coop for shelter and shade. I'm 70 and gave no problem reaching or crawling in a designated rug to clean coop weekly. At my age reaching into somewhere is easier than squatting down . My coop is small 4 x 8 with 10 x 16 run. Read the articles on the learning center, even if you will go with Sentinel there are clues about how to improve pre fab coops. Do plan and secure against predators such as coons. The sentinel looks like it comes with welded hardware cloth covers panels for run.
I think you would do fine and will live their little goofball personalities. Good luck on your decision.
 

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