New chick owners- Need advice for an 8X8 coop!!!

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We were thinking of electric fence too. My only concerns are it shocking our gentle lab and my neighbors cats. Don't think they'd be thrilled.
Hooligans7 said:
We have all of the predators you have, except swap your bobcats for pumas (cougars), and the most recent black bear was seen about three miles from here. Definitely, absolutely, invest in an electric fence. I did, and it provides peace of mind. In addition, I haven't lost a chicken to a predator in almost two years. Before that, I lost five in two attacks by raccoons, and another 'coon tried to grab a chicken through 1" X 1" welded wire. It succeeded in pulling out a clump of feathers. I overlaid the 1" X 1" welded wire with 1/4" X 1/4" hardware cloth, securely wired together.

Yes, they will try for your birds and you've got to think like them if you're going to protect your birds. Best to go with a "belt and suspenders" approach.  I nearly lost three little ones in the brooder to a rattlesnake last year. I ran it off, but I know it's still out there.  I don't know what to do about the bad snakes, but at least none have bothered my birds since they've matured. Perhaps my big BR rooster has made the difference, but I don't know that for sure; maybe the pit vipers just aren't interested in big chickens. But I digress. Surround your coop with at least two "hot" wires — a low wire and high wire work well — and keep the ground damp enough to provide a continuous good ground for your grounding stake.
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jaswiggins said:
We were thinking of electric fence too. My only concerns are it shocking our gentle lab and my neighbors cats. Don't think they'd be thrilled.
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You're right, the pets wouldn't be thrilled, but they'd only touch it once — and they are incapable of resentment. We have two cats and a dog; they're still alive, and they instantly learned to stay away from the coop.
Since the units feature high voltage but low amperage, there's no risk of electrocuting or burning anyone's pet. They deliver a memorable jolt, and that's the purpose.
HOWEVER, one of my neighbor's chickens didn't go to bed with the others one night. My neighbor didn't realize it until the next morning when he found the wayward chicken dead with one wing hooked over the hot wire. Nevertheless, the bird was not electrocuted; it died of fright. How did he know? After plucking the chicken, he found no burns or skin discolorations of any kind, anywhere, including the feet.
So even though the hen wasn't killed by electrocution, there are certain things to be aware of when using any electrical appliance.
 
i just took part of my shed and just put the wyer in the spot that you want it in it maters if you have bantams or standards with bantams you need a 4x4 coop of course i live in buxton maine so there is a limit in maine
 
Welcome to BYC!
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Welcome to BYC. I have to say if I saw those critters (bears, snakes, huge centipedes) I would move in the blink of an eye. Some people say you can keep snakes out by spreading out coiled chicken wire(to look like a big slinky toy) around coop and run. Snakes try to crawl through the openings and get tangled up & die there.

Bears I think will always go where they want too. Their fur insulates them well, so they wouldn't feel the charge, but, their face & nose especially would. You can put some foil strips smeared with peanut butter or bacon bacon fat on your fence. That will cause raccoons, bears, etc. to touch their mouth to the foil and got zotzed.

I wish you luck in turning the predators away - if things are difficult for them they tend to visit neighbors where the defenses aren't as good.

Are you allowed to shoot predators attacking your birds? others may fill in the void but, the ones you kill will not be back. Also can you trap /shoot on your property?
 
I know this is an old post, but you were wanting to do the same thing with your coop that we would like to do. I am hoping that you will have a picture so I can see how you did it. We would also like to have our coop 1-2 feet off of the ground. Thank you.
 

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