Before and after

[Barred Rocker]

When I built my first coop I didn't give a lot of thought to predators. Ater losing 5 hens and 3 roosters to raccoons I decided it was time for some reinforcment.

This is the coop as it was originally built.

Now with heavier gauge wire and totally enclosed the coons can do nothing more than stand outside looking in.

A little bit of extra time and money will go a long way to protect your flock. I learned that the hard way.

 

[nurse_turtle]

Beautiful! As long as all your birds rest and sleep inside the coop. If one of them were to get too close to the wire, a coon will put it's evil little hand through the wire, wiggle it's evil little fingers to entice the chickens, then snatch them and eat their heads. I love your set up!

Also, what do you do with the window opening at the top of the coop? Close and lock at night? If not, the coons will get your chooks.

 

[Barred Rocker]

Quote:
My chickies may not be Einsteins but they know enough not to get within reach of a predator. The window is wired as well and the roost is plenty far enough away that unless the coon had 4 foot tentacles, he aint gettin anything. I've had this set up since last spring and haven't lost any birds yet.

 

[theoldchick]

Nice work! Who is that chicken on the outside?

 

[ericz]

when i move back to the motherland (central VA) i am going to have you build me a coop

 

[AlienChick]

Nice.

 

[Ole rooster]

Not to be pointed, but do be so sure you chickens are as smart as you think. If spooked in the run and they feel they have nowhere to hide, they will go to a corner and pack in. Guess what, some are going to be against the wire. That ain't being smart, that's just what they do. Pack hunter do things like that.

What you've done looks good. Nice job. On the run wire, did you go down of out with the wire?

 

[teach1rusl]

Looks great!!

And better yet - it's looks SO much safer!
Where'd you get the square welded wire?? I can only fine the 2x4 and the 1x3 stuff in my area...

 

[seminolewind]

Very very nice!

 

[Barred Rocker]

Quote:
You are absolutely right. I guess the point I was trying to make is if they do see something like that they're not going to go to the edge of the coop to say Hi. The only predator I usually have a problem with in daylight are hawks. The cover prevents those attacks. At night it's mostly coons and the chicks are inside on the roost by that time. I've notice, at least with mine, that if they feel that threated they usually head inside the coop. Anyway suffice it say the current pen is infinitely better protected than the way it was originally.