Coop building rookie looking for advice..

[LA_ChickenDAD]

Hello all couple of quick questions / thoughts:

So I'd like to put a new coop at the back of our yard but we have a green space behind and coyotes run wild in the evening. Should I consider building closer to the house or will they make their way down no matter what and just do a good job building a solid compound to keep them away? There is a gate to the back that needs to be buttoned up better but I've been told that coyotes can get over a 6' fence if they want to and figured a few hens would be a good enough reason to get in.

I was planning on using the http://thetanglednest.com/2010/02/our-urban-chicken-coop-plan/ (nice looking coop Lyanda Haupt!) is it bulletproof enough for coyotes?

Thanks for any input!

 

[PouleNoire]

How many chickens are you getting? The coop you are looking into looks rather small. As far as coyote proofing it's more the modifications you add and the details that are top priority. Something I would recommend is adding about 2ft of hardware cloth "skirt" around the run and coop and rocks on top of it so when coyotes try to dig they hit that. Heavy-gauge wire I've heard works well on windows and other openings. Make sure you stay on top of closing them in around dusk. I luckily haven't had a run-in personally with Coyotes or foxes, neighbor dogs and my own dogs have been my teachers the hard way, unfortunately. If you have any sort of dog that would chase a coyote, let them out every now and then; that's what keeps the raccoons, etc, away from my coops. These predators are often relentless best of luck to you!

 

[PouleNoire]

Here's an old thread but with some good ideas.

 

[2hotchicks]

Hello all couple of quick questions / thoughts:

So I'd like to put a new coop at the back of our yard but we have a green space behind and coyotes run wild in the evening. Should I consider building closer to the house or will they make their way down no matter what and just do a good job building a solid compound to keep them away? There is a gate to the back that needs to be buttoned up better but I've been told that coyotes can get over a 6' fence if they want to and figured a few hens would be a good enough reason to get in.

I was planning on using the http://thetanglednest.com/2010/02/our-urban-chicken-coop-plan/ (nice looking coop Lyanda Haupt!) is it bulletproof enough for coyotes?

Thanks for any input!

I would place as close to your house as possible.

 

[LA_ChickenDAD]

How many chickens are you getting? The coop you are looking into looks rather small. As far as coyote proofing it's more the modifications you add and the details that are top priority. Something I would recommend is adding about 2ft of hardware cloth "skirt" around the run and coop and rocks on top of it so when coyotes try to dig they hit that. Heavy-gauge wire I've heard works well on windows and other openings. Make sure you stay on top of closing them in around dusk. I luckily haven't had a run-in personally with Coyotes or foxes, neighbor dogs and my own dogs have been my teachers the hard way, unfortunately. If you have any sort of dog that would chase a coyote, let them out every now and then; that's what keeps the raccoons, etc, away from my coops. These predators are often relentless best of luck to you!

Looking to be in the 3 bird range but it seems like that's just where it begins. We have nice neighbors but were in a city so we're not trying to go nuts. We don't have dogs and we are pretty well fenced in but you never know. We have raccoons around as well. Gotcha on the hardware cloth around the run, will do that for sure.

Thanks!

 

[LA_ChickenDAD]

Here's an old thread but with some good ideas.

Great ideas there. Thanks again.

 

[PouleNoire]

No problem, three birds would be fine in that coop; definitely no less than three though, chickens need flockmates. Good luck with your flock

 

[rosemarythyme]

Personally I'd feel safer having them closer to the house, but coyotes aren't going to be deterred by that. The main advantage in having it closer would be you'd be more likely to hear a ruckus if something were to happen, i.e. my set up is maybe 20' from the house and a coyote was checking it out, and I could hear the hens sounding the alarm so I was able to go out and chase it off.

As far as the coop you linked, yes that would be big enough for 3 hens (though you may find bumping it to 6x4 to be similar in price or even cheaper than the 6x3 they actually built, as materials tend to come in 4' increments). What this coop is SORELY lacking is any ventilation (and natural light)! A human door is not ventilation as it should be closed at night. Obvious places for ventilation would be right under the overhang of the roofline - the soffits could be left open. Covered gable vents on the sides maybe. An awning style window somewhere would be ideal too, to let in air and light while protected from rain.

I'd also axe the trap door, not necessary and just eats up space - an automatic door at the pop opening would make more sense. Also I wouldn't put roosts diagonally as the ends are not usable roost space - one bar across the 4' width would be fine.

 

[LA_ChickenDAD]

Personally I'd feel safer having them closer to the house, but coyotes aren't going to be deterred by that. The main advantage in having it closer would be you'd be more likely to hear a ruckus if something were to happen, i.e. my set up is maybe 20' from the house and a coyote was checking it out, and I could hear the hens sounding the alarm so I was able to go out and chase it off.

As far as the coop you linked, yes that would be big enough for 3 hens (though you may find bumping it to 6x4 to be similar in price or even cheaper than the 6x3 they actually built, as materials tend to come in 4' increments). What this coop is SORELY lacking is any ventilation (and natural light)! A human door is not ventilation as it should be closed at night. Obvious places for ventilation would be right under the overhang of the roofline - the soffits could be left open. Covered gable vents on the sides maybe. An awning style window somewhere would be ideal too, to let in air and light while protected from rain.

I'd also axe the trap door, not necessary and just eats up space - an automatic door at the pop opening would make more sense. Also I wouldn't put roosts diagonally as the ends are not usable roost space - one bar across the 4' width would be fine.

Great thanks for the input. Going out to get some supplies to build the Covid bunker for them and I hear you on ventilation, will work that in as well. Will for sure do an automatic door as well.

Looking into options that are closer to the house now that doesn't take over the whole yard.