Coop Design Points for Chicken Health

[kathlynr8]

I have noticed that the coops in town are regular. When I looked at rural properties in Oregon and VT (when we were looking to buy land) I saw electrical fencing for chicken runs and coops. I know bears have been on my land - I have seen scat and prints and my neighbor has actually seen them on our land (we are currently in town, working our new land and building on it) another possibility is chickens in the barn which I will be building. Another issue I have concern about is the neighbors dog.

 

[kathlynr8]

My chickens are to be pets and for eggs (for me and my husband and any left over to friends or a shelter), and pest management and tractor tilling of my garden, and garden fertilizer, and horse poop fly larvae cleaning crew, and models for me to draw, and to make me smile and laugh. Now I visit my neighbors three chickens in town and am working towards moving to my land to follow my heart and my dreams. She offered to sell me her coop but I want to start fresh and build my own if I can. My chickens will not be for breeding nor for meat nor for showing... Ideally, I want to build a home for them so I can get them in the spring and they can move in. I missed my window last year and am trying to prepare so I don't do it again.

 

[Folly's place]

I used hardware cloth, with 2"x4" woven wire over the lower 4' of the run/coop, stapled and the 1"x4" boards screwed in over all. It will work for dogs, but electric will be needed for bears! Premier1supplies.com is a great resource for supplies and advice about predator management, look them up.
Mary

 

[kathlynr8]

I don't really see having the chickens in the horse barn - but it maybe a convenience in the winter??.. maybe they could have a coop most of the year and be in the horse barn for the coldest months? If chickens and all livestock together is recommended - It is conceivable that I could consider building the barn with them included..

 

[Folly's place]

You would be building two coops, if you also want them in the barn. A good coop and run will be fine all year; go with that instead.
Until 'chicken math' really hits, and you need to double or triple your coop space! Mary

 

[kathlynr8]

when fencing - may consider a double fence with space between - so that if a dog / bear came it wouldn't be anywhere near the inner chicken fence. Like to avoid stressed chickens.

 

[aart]

Hot wire for bears....and dogs.
Electric fencing can protect coop, run and/or pasture area.
Woods coop with protected pasture.

Not sure you want chickens in the horse barn, chickens produce a lot of dust and I've read that it could be detrimental to horses.

Plan your coop and run for access, and snow load, in winter.

These things may have already been mentioned,
I did not read all the posts before replying

 

[Folly's place]

Thanks, aart, that's the Woods coop that I lust after! Color scheme and all. Mary

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Thanks, aart, that's the Woods coop that I lust after! Color scheme and all. Mary

I like that coop too! and the barn red is just the right color

Gary

 

[sweetater22]

Hot wire top and bottom for me around coop and run for all predators.
Place bottom wire about 5-6 inches from bottom and top wire at roof level in case a coon or other predator climbs the wire mesh. There are many types of chargers for sale both battery powered and plug in that will do the job.