Coop Security Questions

[CamdenLab]

I purchased a really nice coop from a local source and it was delivered yesterday! I'm not much of a DIYer and I did purchase the chicks on somewhat of a whim (was planning on doing it "someday" and then one day I woke up and said "today's the day!" and now I have nine chicks when I was supposed to have three...).

The coop is raised off the floor (two feet or so), window is plexiglass within the frame, the roof is corrugated metal with openings less than two inches for ventilation and there is an overhang to help with the weather. The run is framed and has hardware cloth (I think that's what it's called ... it has 1/2 inch openings). There is an under the coop door and a man-door as well as a door on the back end of the nest boxes.

I dug a trench about ten inches deep and wide. Within that trench, I placed gravel (gravel/paver sand mix). On top of the gravel I placed a cinder block (holes go up and down and are filled in with gravel and dirt. Over the cinder blocks, I placed a couple feet of chicken wire. The wire is bent over the inside of the block and skirts out about a foot. Over the cinder block and chicken wire is a cement paver that fits perfectly over the cinder block. The coop sits on top of this "foundation".

I am going to improve the coop in the following ways:

1. I am going to reinforce the hardware cloth with screws and washers (currently it's stapled on).
2. I am going to add hardware cloth to the inside of the window, even though it has plexiglass.
3. I have some latches to go on the gate hardware so that raccoons can't open them.
4. I am adding an additional latch to the bottom of the man door so nothing can sneak in through the bottom by pulling the door.

I also have a six foot wooden privacy fence around my backyard and a dog that chases other animals out of the yard (so far, just cats). That being said, the fence is not buried and there are a few "holes" that I need to patch up toward the bottom where there is some rot.

The one thing that I thought was weird is that the coop does not have a door, just an opening with a ladder for the chickens to come in and out. When I asked the man who delivered and set up the coop about this, he said that the rest of the coop is so strong that they don't add doors because it's just a pain to open it in the morning and close it up at night.

Even if I did decide to leave it open, I kinda want to make that choice myself. I can think of at least two reasons why I'd want to shut it. One being when I "coop train" the girls and the other being when I have a friend over with a dog that is not chicken-friendly (she would just bark and lunge at the pen). My plan is to put the chickens in the coop with some treats like a hanging treat ball and a waterer if she comes over.

Regarding the door, what do you think?

And, regarding the rest, any thoughts?

Thank you!

 

[popsicle]

Quote:
I recently built a tractor for some unexpected Silkies that came in an assortment. Sounds a bit similar as far as hardware cloth, access etc. I do have a ramp that can close off the access to the run. I got real sick of opening and closing it after about three nights. Now it stays open. I can totally understand why the builder did it that way, but I can also understand why you want some control.

I would reinforce with screws and washers--it's not that expensive and will last longer.

Extra latches are good--but you might get sick of using them. Again, they aren't too expensive to just add on in case you need it.

I think hardware cloth over plexiglass is excessive--that stuff doesn't really break. I think it will just create a place to trap lots of dust, bedding and feathers, and make it harder to clean. I'd be more inclined to remove the plexiglass, or make it a window that opens with a hardware cloth screen.

 

[chfite]

I like having a pop door on the coop. I can close it and make sure the chickens are truly secure.

I can close it to keep them inside, if needed. I can close it to keep them out, so that I can clean the coop without interference.

I rigged up a guillotine style door with a rope that runs to the outside of the coop. I can close and open it without having to go into the run.

Chris

 

[khoe]

I love having a pop door. I close it each night with two small latches, and open every morning. I also have two latches on most opening to the coop, to be sure no predators get in. I would add one on, it won't be too hard. I think not having a pop door is fairly common, as my chicken mentors have no pop door. My run is fully enclosed but I feel better knowing my girls are in the coop and not running around the run at night.

 

[aart]

Sounds like a very good plan, I commend you!

I would want a pop door too unless your dogs stay out all night.

The plexiglass/hardware cloth issue....does that window open?

I'm guessing not, if it doesn't you probably don't need the HC, but I wonder about ventilation.

Can you post pics of coop?

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I have a tie out for my dog when we go visiting. We have a friend that lives on a highway and has no fencing. Our latest dog isn't dependable off lead, yet. It's nice to not have a leash in my hand every minute, when we do cookouts. You could think about using one of those when your friend's dog comes to visit.

 

[CamdenLab]

Sorry but I didn't see these replies!

I ended up adding washers to the fencing and correcting all gaps around doors with 1x4s. When I closed the gaps it made it impossible to pull the door so I did not add the second latch. I didn't add the HC to the window as it does not open. The coop is well ventilated with small gaps (very small) on the corrugated metal roofing and the flooring under the tray which are 1x6s with some spacing. Since the coop isn't perfectly level I added shims to blck any gaps between the frame and the foundation.

The girls are in the coop now. I kicked them out last night because they were making a huge mess and it was bothering my lungs quite a lot despite having windows open. The heat lamp is in the coop and I turn it on at night. It's 85 during the day this week and 60s at night.

They actually don't even go into the run yet. :-/ I feel pretty secure with the set up but may end up adding a door anyway. Here's a pic before I made all the listed security upgrades.

 

[joan1708]

Cute coop. It sounds very secure to me. I think you've done all the right things. I wonder if you could hinge your chicken ramp and pull it up if you want to keep your hens in the coop? your could rig a pulley system so you could pull the ramp up from outside the coop.