Coop suggestion

[bellivchickens]

Hi All -

Have had chickens 4 years and after some recent predator devastation in my coop setup (old shed supposedly fortified and an outdoor run completely fenced and netted) I lost 3 more birds yesterday. I thought I had finally gotten to the point of security, obviously not.

So my remaining birds are in one of my Eglu's which will be used for the new chicks in a month. I'm looking for a self contained coop and run, I'd love something I could tractor or at least put wheels on and tractor or lift with my tractor. I live in ND, we get really cold, so that's a consideration, and I'd like room for 40 egg layers and am willing to pay for enough size that they are comfortable.

I can also make the run myself if need be.

I'm in a hurry to get something ordered, and have done some research, but thought that someone may have a great recommendation.

Thanks so much -

John

 

[redsix]

I gathering materials to build a chicken tractor with an 8' by 8' shed mounted on 16' skids. I think you are supposed to allow 4 sq.ft. per bird, so that's enough space for 16 birds. I don't think you want to pull around anything larger than that.

 

[bellivchickens]

Anyone have any experience with this brand: http://betterchickencoops.com/10x14-chicken-coop.php

I have a couple of tractors (the kind with wheels and an engine ) and quite a bit of capacity so I'm not too concerned about moving them.

 

[redsix]

Yeah, I have farm tractor to move mine with as well, but not a real big one. How did the predators get in? Some people are using wire with only 1/2" by 1/2" openings in the pen areas. That seems kind of excessive to me. Guess they are trying to keep out snakes?

 

[bellivchickens]

Not sure this last time. Was a weasel or mink digging in that was the most devastating, and I've fortified against that. Two birds completely gone, one decapitated the other day. Would've had to be a pretty crafty raptor to get in as we had the bird netting tightened up pretty darn good I thought. Weasels can get in small places, a 50 cent piece sized opening, heck, look at the hole on a "weasel box" trap.

What we're doing now is moving them back to our house instead of a shed 500 yds away. Will have fully enclosed and off the ground coop and then a hardware cloth enclosed run.....