Check out my finished coop!

[aart]

I managed to build this with a lot of left over wood I already had for less than $350.

Nice Job!
That number will go up once you get the 1/2"HC on there...but still.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Really nice looking build! I agree with the recommendation to reinforce the chicken wire with something stronger and smaller in opening - you don't want gaps any larger than 1/2", and possibly even less than that if you happen to have a mouse problem. Hardware cloth and welded wire are both possible options.

 

[Jbrant2]

Apparently you haven't had a loss yet and maybe you won't. I had to loose some birds first, which is learning the hard way. Luckily your run is covered so you won't have an issue with aerial predators, then there are the diggers, climbers and those who can find a way in that you never suspected. We have mostly coyotes, some bobcats, fox, possums, coons mostly and I had a skunk try to dig under a gate to get at some chicks. I know there are bears but I have never seen any. Maybe the coyotes keep them away. I hope you never experience any losses. Good luck...

Yea thanks. My coop is on top of an old concrete slab and filled with construction sand so I'm not so worried about anything digging in just the integrity of my chicken wire is my main concern

 

[Jbrant2]

Welcome to the BYC Forum

That's a very nice coop and run and looks perfect for your 4 hens. I really like your access to the nest boxes and your clean out door. Love your sliding window. I have the same type windows on my coop and they are great. I wish I could have built a hard top roof for my chicken run, but I had to settle for bird netting. Someday I would like to have a better roof system. It really looks like you spent some time and effort in both the design and build. Congratulations!

Do you lock the hens up in the coop at night? I see you have a chicken doorway and ramp, but don't know if you have a pop door that closes and locks the birds in the coop and the bad guys out for the night.

IF you do have predator concerns, I would certainly suggest a pop door that closes and locks the hens in their coop for the night, and/or using 1/2 inch mesh wire for the chicken run. Chicken wire is only strong enough to keep chickens inside the run, but it is not strong enough to keep most predators out.

I have 2X4 wire fencing, 6 foot tall, and bird netting on top. I consider my chicken run predator resistant. But I lock my girls up in their Fort Knox chicken coop every night. So far, there has been no predator issues.

The only other constructive comment I will offer is that chickens like to roost as high as possible. I can't tell from the picture, but it looks like your roost bar is at level, or slightly below, your nest boxes. Most people would recommend that your roost bar be higher than your nest boxes, or the chickens will end up roosting, and pooping, in your nest boxes at night. IF this becomes a problem, then you might raise the height of your roost bar and/or put a board across your nest boxes to prevent access at night.

It's a great looking coop and run and I am sure it will provide you with many years of service. Congratulations on the build.

Thanks alot. The bar your seeing in the one photo in front of the nesting boxes isnt a roosting bar. Its sits about 2 inches below the front of the boxes simple to act as a step or a hopping point for them to get in and out of the boxes. What you dont see is on the other side of the coop box there are two roosing bars. One is a straight peice of wood and the other is a natural limp I cut and put it. They sleep on those every night !

 

[gtaus]

What you dont see is on the other side of the coop box there are two roosing bars. One is a straight peice of wood and the other is a natural limp I cut and put it. They sleep on those every night !

Perfect. Should not have any problems there either. Great idea on the concrete slab. Nothing getting under that and into your coop/run area.

 

[Hollydolly803]

Beautiful coop!

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[blackdog043]

I'm not so worried about anything digging in just the integrity of my chicken wire is my main concern

If your gonna upgrade to 1/2" hardware cloth, check Amazon and walmart.com. They usually have better prices than big box stores and you can get bigger rolls.

 

[Sequel]

Wow! That's just gorgeous! Ok you could use better wire but you just did this so doggone well! Good on you! Good luck with your flock!

 

[CindyinSD]

What a beautiful coop! Great job. It’s right at home there... like it’s a featured display in a well-manicured park. I’m totally jealous!

You could wrap it in finer-mesh wire for extra security. You may or may not need the reinforcement but finding out the hard way is... just so hard. A quick thought... 1/2” hardware cloth is kind of difficult to see through. It’s not that you *can’t* see through it; it’s just that your view is significantly obstructed. If this is a no-go for you, you might consider HWC around the bottom and chicken wire the rest of the way. I think you can get 3’ wide rolls but I don’t remember for sure. For me, that and closing the girls inside their coop at night would be an acceptable risk.

If you’re more concerned, if your risk tolerance is lower, you could also run a “wire” or two around the coop and power them via a solar fence energizer. I would do one about nine or ten inches up (nose level for many predators) and a second around two feet up. You can easily break them in front of your entrance door with inexpensive insulated handles that hook over a loop of fence wire—not very “gate-ish,” but it’s easy and convenient.