New Coop Design...advise?

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You did an awesome job. Like you said about taking ideas from different projects that you checked out,
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I see some things I like and I see some thing that I'd change for my
project. I would like to make a suggestion and it has nothing to do with the coop. Get metal cans to put your feed in. This will help to keep mice out of your coop and by your coop being in the woods this may eliminate snakes
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. I have my feed in metal cans and occasionally I get mice but they don't stay long because of lack of feed. Just an Idea. It looks Great
Hey trooper-

I HATE mice...maybe more than installing hardware cloth
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I built the coop tight. The only place that mice can get in is through the hardware cloth....can mice get through it?
I will heed your advice and keep anything edible in metal cans....but what about in the coop? Will mice get into the chickens feed? Will chickens tolerate mice in the coop?

We are in central Wisconsin and snakes aren't an issue.
 
Our coops are similar so I thought I would share how mine is ventilated. The vents in the pictures are the same front and back, I also kept windows open as well, and still had a frost bite problem last winter. A coops needs lots of air, but with no breeze on the hens.

As far as mice problems, I have an apron around the entire place made of hardware cloth, nothing gets in. As long as hardware cloth is securely fastened it is a good barrier. While our run door was open a mouse did sneak in once, so I used a spring trap to get rid of that one overnight while the girls were not in the run. If you have a big mouse problem a bucket trap may be a reasonable solution, google has a few varieties. So yes mice will on occasion get in, we've had some small wild birds also fly in the door and not find their way out. With the indoor storage though most of your rodent problems should be minor.

Have fun with the chickens



 
Our coops are similar so I thought I would share how mine is ventilated. The vents in the pictures are the same front and back, I also kept windows open as well, and still had a frost bite problem last winter. A coops needs lots of air, but with no breeze on the hens.

As far as mice problems, I have an apron around the entire place made of hardware cloth, nothing gets in. As long as hardware cloth is securely fastened it is a good barrier. While our run door was open a mouse did sneak in once, so I used a spring trap to get rid of that one overnight while the girls were not in the run. If you have a big mouse problem a bucket trap may be a reasonable solution, google has a few varieties. So yes mice will on occasion get in, we've had some small wild birds also fly in the door and not find their way out. With the indoor storage though most of your rodent problems should be minor.

Have fun with the chickens



Very nice coop Grey Roo!!
I guess I will have to see how this winter goes with the ventilation....also I am a clean freak and I am sure keeping things clean and dry will help with keeping the moisture down....along with air circulation.

My coop is completely sealed tight and the run is completely covered with hardware cloth...so I would think the only issue I will have with mice is if they come through one of the doors.
 
Chickens will eat mice… at least large fowl birds. Kind of gross, but true. However when the birds are on the roost at night, mice can do as they wish. A chicken does not move from the roosting position very often.

Best to you and your birds,

RJ
 
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