Authentic Woods KD (Knock Down) 10' by 16' Coop Build

[Folly's place]

Only electric, properly set up, very hot, and baited, will keep bears away!
Mary

 

[Ted Brown]

Only electric, properly set up, very hot, and baited, will keep bears away!
Mary

Mary, as I indicated above there are bear in the area but I have only seen them 3 times in 40 years. Friends told me they saw one leaving a road a few weeks back and within 5 miles of me.

I am reluctant to "bait" as I do not want to attract anything. Can you elaborate on why I need to bait?

Thanks

 

[Folly's place]

My understanding, based on other's experiences and experts, is that because bears in particular have such great fur coats, they may not notice the electric fence as they go through it.
The object of adding bacon or something yummy on the electric wire or rope itself is to get the critter to taste it and be horrified, and leave.
It works for most ground predators!
When one of my dogs tasted the electric rope holding our steers in, he screamed and ran for the house. He never got near an electric rope again!
Once you've grabbed one, you try to avoid them too...
Mary

 

[aart]

The object of adding bacon or something yummy on the electric wire or rope itself is to get the critter to taste it and be horrified, and leave.

Yup!!
Kinda like the opposite of using fake eggs to show where to lay.

 

[Ted Brown]

@Folly's place @jthornton @aart

How many joules should the energizer be?

 

[jthornton]

@Folly's place @jthornton @aart

How many joules should the energizer be?

Mine is 1 joule and it's nice and hot.

JT

 

[Folly's place]

I don't remember, but it's nice and hot, and does our mile of horse fencing, and then some. I'll look later.
Ask Premier what they recommend against bears.
Mary

 

[MiaS]

I have continued to progress with the coop, yesterday got the steps and platform built and mostly installed. The steps are temporary but functional at the moment (rain was forecast for the next few days and I wanted the metal roof sheets on) when I finish I will post better pics.

The roof was quick and eliminated a minor leak that was coming through the underlayment membrane. The sheets may look bad with rust and some bent corners but the backside is clean and shiny and NO PERFORATIONS! I will wash and prep the surface and apply one, perhaps two, coats of red metal primer; longer term goal is paint it brown to match house and shop. Pretty certain I can get another 20 years out of the metal, no bad for zero cost.

View attachment 1922269 View attachment 1922270 View attachment 1922271 View attachment 1922272 View attachment 1922273 View attachment 1922274 View attachment 1922275

Score!

 

[MiaS]

I do have an angle grinder but use of this with metal roof sheets is not recommended by the manufacturer, it is harder on the zinc coating that is used to inhibit rust. Metal snips is the way too go just make sure leather gloves and care is used as it will slice your hands in an instant. The snips are easy to use and one can follow a straight line much easier than with a grinder that sometimes has it's own mind.

I'm seriously impressed that you could do this with snips. I tried and after the first few snips it became impossible. You must have better snips, or be a better snipper, than me

 

[Ted Brown]

Today I installed a light kit that surrounds the two roofs of the coop (solar+LED point lights) and the monitor windows. Lots of rain forecast for tomorrow and I wanted to shelter the ladies.