Iaughter
In the Brooder
- Jan 1, 2017
- 2
- 7
- 24
Hi!
The chicken tunnel made of metal fencing and used as a moveable run, "garden mote", or fence-line weed reducer is commonly referenced on youtube and on this site. These tunnels always seem to be merely resting on the ground and therefore a pita to step over. I'm considering building an elevated chicken tunnel. Has anyone else built a chicken ladder, surrounding by fencing to enable your birds to move from place to place?
I have a fairly large coop connected to a fairly small run via an underground chicken tunnel. Adjacent to the run is a 1/4 acre fenced pasture. I want to enable my chickens to access this pasture, but I'd still like to be able to conveniently walk/drive machines (lawnmower, atv, tractor?) between the run and the pasture.
Chicken ladders are extremely commonplace for entry/exit to a coop. These ladders/ramps are typically 3-5 feet tall. An 8 foot chicken ladder, wrapped in fencing seems reasonable. Does anyone have photos or video of their super tall chicken ramp? Bonus points if it goes up and then back down! (For example, here's a neat second floor ladder).
With such a "chicken sky tunnel", the next question is: how to prevent predators from climbing it to access the run and coop? The sky tunnel could simply connect, in the pasture, to additional, extensive chicken tunnel. This would be the most secure option, but would only give the chickens access to the tunneled-off area, not the full, fenced-in pasture. Alternatively, I wonder if requiring the chickens to fly to an elevated perch to enter the "sky walk" from the pasture would discourage predators while enabling the adult chickens to enjoy the full pasture. A 5+- foot perch in the pasture could discourage raccoons, foxes, possums, etc, but would still enable a trained chicken to enter the sky walk -> run -> coop.
What do you guys think? My wife is requesting that I research the "chicken sky walk" idea before investing time or money in it. (I'm hoping that you share your successful experience with this exact idea!)
Isaac
p.s. I'm a long-time reader, but first-time poster. I really appreciate the depth of topics & discussion on these forums.
p.p.s. Fyi - I'm in southern Wisconsin, last winter we had lows of ~-40 F. I've been overwintering chickens in this climate for the past 4 years.
p.p.p.s. My coop is located in the middle of ~25 acre forest. Racoons, foxes and hawks are the primary predators of our chickens.
The chicken tunnel made of metal fencing and used as a moveable run, "garden mote", or fence-line weed reducer is commonly referenced on youtube and on this site. These tunnels always seem to be merely resting on the ground and therefore a pita to step over. I'm considering building an elevated chicken tunnel. Has anyone else built a chicken ladder, surrounding by fencing to enable your birds to move from place to place?
I have a fairly large coop connected to a fairly small run via an underground chicken tunnel. Adjacent to the run is a 1/4 acre fenced pasture. I want to enable my chickens to access this pasture, but I'd still like to be able to conveniently walk/drive machines (lawnmower, atv, tractor?) between the run and the pasture.
Chicken ladders are extremely commonplace for entry/exit to a coop. These ladders/ramps are typically 3-5 feet tall. An 8 foot chicken ladder, wrapped in fencing seems reasonable. Does anyone have photos or video of their super tall chicken ramp? Bonus points if it goes up and then back down! (For example, here's a neat second floor ladder).
With such a "chicken sky tunnel", the next question is: how to prevent predators from climbing it to access the run and coop? The sky tunnel could simply connect, in the pasture, to additional, extensive chicken tunnel. This would be the most secure option, but would only give the chickens access to the tunneled-off area, not the full, fenced-in pasture. Alternatively, I wonder if requiring the chickens to fly to an elevated perch to enter the "sky walk" from the pasture would discourage predators while enabling the adult chickens to enjoy the full pasture. A 5+- foot perch in the pasture could discourage raccoons, foxes, possums, etc, but would still enable a trained chicken to enter the sky walk -> run -> coop.
What do you guys think? My wife is requesting that I research the "chicken sky walk" idea before investing time or money in it. (I'm hoping that you share your successful experience with this exact idea!)
Isaac
p.s. I'm a long-time reader, but first-time poster. I really appreciate the depth of topics & discussion on these forums.
p.p.s. Fyi - I'm in southern Wisconsin, last winter we had lows of ~-40 F. I've been overwintering chickens in this climate for the past 4 years.
p.p.p.s. My coop is located in the middle of ~25 acre forest. Racoons, foxes and hawks are the primary predators of our chickens.
