>>>>My DH is all over the coop and the chicken run plans. He’s going to start with a foot deep trench filled with concrete with barbed wire running beside it. Two layers of wire fencing. A roof on the run (for protection and shade). Misters on the roof of the run to keep them cool in the summer. I have a feeling that our chickens won’t have much to worry about! lol!<<<<<<
Consider making it portable - they work great if you have a garden too. The chickens will eat every bug, tick or whatever in sight. The will clean up remains of plants and eat the over ripe veggies, and scratch up the soil almost ready to plant again.
There are a few shown here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2181392/posts?page=1285#1285
The plan is to build the coop with the covered, attached run. We want to put in a gate that opens out to the garden. When we’re home during the day, the chickens can wander over a rather large area and help in the garden. If we’re not home, they’ll still have a secure run.
We want to build a small, portable chicken tractor for the ones who are sick or being picked on.
My daughter’s boyfriend’s mom just brings the inside when they’re not doing so well. I’ll put a cage in the house for a really sick bird.