BobbyNix Coop

When we purchased this mountain property with a existing small coop. Our flock is 11 members at the present and free range from 8am until sunset. The listing agent showed us a video of a bear attacking the coop from last year so we knew right away we needed something to withstand an initial attack until we are alerted. We see or see evidence of bears every few days since spring began. My wife and I converted a well built 8x10 shed into a chicken fortress. Luckily we are self employed and work from home so for now I am the protector. We are usually in the yard all day and working inside at night. Hoping one of the chicks ends up being a Roo. We plan to leave the original small coop in the run to transition other members into the flock. We also expanded the run which is well covered by trees to 350 square feet. We plan to hot wire the perimeter shortly. We will keep adding features as we go.

Update 8/19/2023 (with some new photos as well to the gallery)

Chicks turn 16 weeks tomorrow and happy to say all 11 hens are doing great. We added a hengear roll away nest box under the poop shelf. So far they pay it no mind. Since the coop is pretty much windowless the light under the shelf is dim. I am hoping that will not be a problem. The led light I installed so the baby chicks felt drawn to the coop is no longer needed so I may mount it under the shelf until they are using the nest box. We also added a barn rated fan and a misting system in the run plus fenced in a 1000 square foot additional garden/run space. I plan to lock them down shortly since they run out in the morning as soon as the gate opens to their club house (two bushes down the hill from their run). They return for a drink and a snack a few times during the day and shadowing me if I am outside (love it!). Looking forward to eggs soon! Bears have been coming around almost every other day but do not seem to pay any attention to the chickens or their coop. Fingers crossed that stays the norm but I have a feeling they will become a bit more challenging once fall approaches. We placed a slow chickens at play sign under our bear sign. Adding additional 2x4's to the interior framing and adding additional washers and wood screws to the outside panels will make it a formidable coop. Hawks seem to circle once or twice a day but the chickens stay under the trees. All in all a great experience so far!