I PROMISE I have read and researched all this--probably too much and it's all jumbling in my mind. Thanks in advance for advice, answers and suggestions!
Plan to have 4-6 hens in this coop.
1. We are building a modified version of the "Witchita Cabin Coop" https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=66725-wichita-cabin-coop . We changed the dimensions a bit. The coop will be 4'x4' and the run area will be 4x4 as well (plus the area under the coop). It will be 8' high in front and 7' in the rear. The nesting boxes are mounted on the exterior so do not effect the coop area. Is this enough run/roam area for this small number of hens or do we also need a long run? I know the rule of thumbs (2-3 square feet per chicken inside the henhouse and 4-5 sq/ft per chicken in an outside run) so I seem to be okay, but it just seems confining to me.
2. We plan to use a metal roof screwed directly to the frame (we live in the south, so snow weight not an issue). We used treated lumber around the base where the wood contacts the base, but we are using untreated yellow pine for the structure. I feel like I need to paint/stain the wood to protect it from the elements. I have a gallon of polyurethane left from doing hardwood floors. Is oil based polyurethane safe for the birds?
3. I'm debating on what to do with the floor in the coop. Anyone tried just covering the plywood with contact paper?
4. Ventilation: I'm trying to comprehend how much I need. It's hot and humid here in the summer. I plan to put windows in the door of the coop and also above the nesting boxes. Is this adequate ventilation or do I also need to leave a gap at the roof-line? If so, how much gap?
The beginning:

Plan to have 4-6 hens in this coop.
1. We are building a modified version of the "Witchita Cabin Coop" https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=66725-wichita-cabin-coop . We changed the dimensions a bit. The coop will be 4'x4' and the run area will be 4x4 as well (plus the area under the coop). It will be 8' high in front and 7' in the rear. The nesting boxes are mounted on the exterior so do not effect the coop area. Is this enough run/roam area for this small number of hens or do we also need a long run? I know the rule of thumbs (2-3 square feet per chicken inside the henhouse and 4-5 sq/ft per chicken in an outside run) so I seem to be okay, but it just seems confining to me.
2. We plan to use a metal roof screwed directly to the frame (we live in the south, so snow weight not an issue). We used treated lumber around the base where the wood contacts the base, but we are using untreated yellow pine for the structure. I feel like I need to paint/stain the wood to protect it from the elements. I have a gallon of polyurethane left from doing hardwood floors. Is oil based polyurethane safe for the birds?
3. I'm debating on what to do with the floor in the coop. Anyone tried just covering the plywood with contact paper?
4. Ventilation: I'm trying to comprehend how much I need. It's hot and humid here in the summer. I plan to put windows in the door of the coop and also above the nesting boxes. Is this adequate ventilation or do I also need to leave a gap at the roof-line? If so, how much gap?
The beginning:

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