Building coop for two chickens. Help with racoon proofing!

[QuackerOats]

Hello,

I need to build a coop for two Rhode Island Reds. I am new to chickens and have some questions!

We have racoons here. So, I've been told that we have to dig under the ground and lay hardware cloth down. However, I would really like the coop and run to be portable. I'll also be honest... digging down into the soil in my yard is not an easy task! They are rocks and tree roots everywhere. It would take ages. What you you think of having the hardware cloth on ground level and laying a few inches of mulch or dirt above it? It could be framed in some wood planks to prevent it from falling out.

How big would you recommend the coop and run be? There will always be two chickens, because that is all my parents will allow me to have and I can't spend too much money on building the coop.

thanks all for your help!

 

[Penturner]

Laying the cloth on the ground works if you bury it so the raccoons cannot find the edge of it. they will try to dig under right at the edge of the run. least work as possible smallest hole as possible. but raccoons are very very smart. they where digging up flower bulbs where I work so the grounds people placed about 1 foot discs of wire around the base of each plant because the raccoons did not pull up the plant they dug from the side and directly to the bulb leaving the plant to die after a day or two. the plant was actually still standing there like nothing was wrong and wilted. anyway it took the coons about two days to figure out that wire only went so far so they just adjusted their angle of approach and cleared out the rest of the flower bed in one night. It was like they knew someone was trying to figure out how to stop them and the next attempt just might work. so they took everything while they could. if they find the edge of your wire and it is not held down enough for them to simply crawl under it. it will be a waste of effort. even if it was buried under 6 inches of dirt they might figure it out. but having it fairly wide and actually buried several inches seems to work fairly well. I also have Raccoons and to be honest I don't look forward to the battle.

 

[QuackerOats]

Ohhh.. I didn't know raccoons could be so sneaky. :S

If the wire is fastened securely to the frame of the coop, would that work well? So, the run would be 100 percent covered in wire with no holes. Also, what is the best way to attach the wire to the frame?

 

[CityChook]

from MN

Raccoons are VERY sneaky - and very smart.

I wouldn't really recommend putting wire on the bottom of your run. Chickens like access to the grass/dirt. That's why you have a portable tractor in the first place.

I attached the wire with screws and washers.

If you don't really want to bury the wire and have a portable coop/run, you can make an apron. But nothing will protect them better than simply locking up their SECURE coop every night. True, coons will still come out during the day, but most of their dirty work is done at night.

ETA: minimum size for two chickens is 4 sq/ft per bird inside, 10 sq/ft per bird for the run. I'd recommend the size of a large dog house for your coop.