Chicks keep digging out of coop

[carabear133]

Hi all,

Our four new chicks are about a week old now and love to copy their mama and dig inside the coop. We've always let our bigger hens dig in that coop when they lived in it, so I didn't think twice... that is, until I walked outside and found one of the chicks running around outside the coop. They are small enough to dig themselves underneath. Predators aren't that much of a problem that I've seen with the bigger hens, other than house cats during the day.

Before going to work today I lined the entire outside of the coop with paver bricks and prayed for the best. We're thinking of permanently solving the problem by buying plywood and finally making a floor for them, but then I'm concerned they'd have nothing to do in there until I get home from work and supervise them outside.

Any tips?

 

[Whoopsie daisy]

Is it possible to dig a foot or two into the ground around the coop and insert hardware cloth or roof sheeting downward so that nothing can dig out or in? Otherwise the paver bricks should help. Soon they'll be too big to dig out

 

[joan1708]

wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to put chicken wire around the inside edge of the coop/run? It certainly wouldn't be predator proof but should keep the chicks in, and they would still have a little dirt to play in.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If they are getting out under the fence and not through it or through a crack at a corner, gate, or connection to the coop, I strongly suggest an apron. If the chicks can get out, something else can get in.

Take a piece of wire fencing, something with holes small enough the chicks can’t get through and maybe 18” wide. That width is for predators, not the chicks. Just for chicks the width could be a lot less. Lay that wire fencing on the ground outside your coop and attach it to the bottom of your run at close enough intervals the chicks can’t get through. I don’t know what the bottom of your run looks like. I use J-Clips but hog rings will also work on wire. If it is wood, come up with something.

You don’t have to cover it, you can just lay something on it to hold it flat until grass grows up through it, but many people take up about 2” of the top soil (basically the sod) and put that on top. That hold sit down and keeps it out of the way of lawn mowers or weed whackers. The idea with predators is that they go up to the fence, start digging, hit the wire, and don’t know to back up. Obviously it will seal the bottom so the chicks can’t dig out. It should be a lot less work than digging straight down and it’s very effective.

 

[carabear133]

Thanks everyone!! I like the apron idea, I have a roll of chicken wire and I'll try that and see if it works. You're right, they're growing every day and soon won't fit underneath anymore