I disagree with your wood chip theory. I have my chicken run loaded with wood chips and it has been amazing. I have never had a foot injury, it creates movement and exercise for the birds because they have to scratch in it to find their treats, it keeps the run from getting muddy and smelly...
Sorry you lost your hen. Your problem may be the light you have on both inside and outside your coop. I have an automatic door as well. My chickens are all inside and up on the roost as it gets dark well before the door closes. With you having a light on both inside and outside the coop it keeps...
Looks great! You know what else is great for the chicken run. Wood chips. I have a tree company come dump a truck load at my house(they're free) and I used them in the run. The girls love scratching in them and they break down into some amazing soil.
I understand they don't move at night but I have seen them sit out in the wind during the day and not move either. Feathers insulate whether it is day or night. When I had guineas they would never roost in the coop they would roost in the trees even during snowstorms and they lived no problem
What about when chickens are outside in those cold drafts? I have birds that perch outside in my run in frigid temperatures during the day even when it's windy with no issues. Are you also saying that chickens have less adequate feathers than the wild birds that roost outside all winter long?
I will probably have a different opinion from most on here but I will share it anyway. I don't feel you will have a problem with her being in front of that open window. I live in NY and it gets pretty cold here. I leave my windows open all year round. I have never had any issues with chickens...
Does your property have a lot of trees? Using your dried leaves as your bedding in your coop is cheaper and much better than pine shavings. They also break down faster in your compost pile and your chickens will have a blast scratching them into a million pieces.
I have vinyl flooring down in both of my big coops. With a deep little of dead leaves and hay/straw it works great. There is no slippage for myself or the hens and cleanup is a breeze.