Hello my new helpful friends! Coop is done and waiting for its princesses! I have a few questions and welcome any suggestions you may have.
Here is what we did as far as fencing and landscaping. The big plant in the middle along the fence is a grapevine. I thought they would enjoy that. There will be more things planted around the outside of the fence, and I plan on putting a shrub or two inside for them to escape predators and heat too. The fenced in area is 16' x 16', for 3 GSL's and 2 bantams. I know they will fly right over that fence when they are full grown. We're going to cross that bridge when we get to it. Our house is about 25' to the left of this. I took this from our second floor.
A close-up of the base my DH built under the coop and protected run. There is hardware cloth under the coop and run, no apron on the outside. I put mulch down just so I could get the girls out there. I'll put more hay and stuff down when I move them outside.
Here is how the roof opens, not sure why I would need to get in this way though . . .
These are the latches that came on the coop.
My DH built these doors for easy cleaning of the run. There's one on either side.
Here is the handle and latch he added.
And, here are my questions!!
1) Will the latches that came with the coop be enough protection against predators? Should I switch them to ones that I can put one of those rock climber clips on? (I forget what they are called!!)
2) Would a raccoon be able to open the hooks on the doors on the run? It was kind of hard for me, but I've been told a coon can get the lid off of a metal garbage can.
3) If we are away for a few days, can I leave the door leading into the coop open while we are away? There is not enough room inside the coop for food and water. There is hardware cloth under the coop and protected run.
4) Do I need to put a latch on the roof? Would a raccoon be able to open that? I don't want to find out the hard way!!
Any suggestions are welcome as well, thanks again!
Here is what we did as far as fencing and landscaping. The big plant in the middle along the fence is a grapevine. I thought they would enjoy that. There will be more things planted around the outside of the fence, and I plan on putting a shrub or two inside for them to escape predators and heat too. The fenced in area is 16' x 16', for 3 GSL's and 2 bantams. I know they will fly right over that fence when they are full grown. We're going to cross that bridge when we get to it. Our house is about 25' to the left of this. I took this from our second floor.
A close-up of the base my DH built under the coop and protected run. There is hardware cloth under the coop and run, no apron on the outside. I put mulch down just so I could get the girls out there. I'll put more hay and stuff down when I move them outside.
Here is how the roof opens, not sure why I would need to get in this way though . . .
These are the latches that came on the coop.
My DH built these doors for easy cleaning of the run. There's one on either side.
Here is the handle and latch he added.
And, here are my questions!!
1) Will the latches that came with the coop be enough protection against predators? Should I switch them to ones that I can put one of those rock climber clips on? (I forget what they are called!!)
2) Would a raccoon be able to open the hooks on the doors on the run? It was kind of hard for me, but I've been told a coon can get the lid off of a metal garbage can.
3) If we are away for a few days, can I leave the door leading into the coop open while we are away? There is not enough room inside the coop for food and water. There is hardware cloth under the coop and protected run.
4) Do I need to put a latch on the roof? Would a raccoon be able to open that? I don't want to find out the hard way!!
Any suggestions are welcome as well, thanks again!
