- Aug 27, 2012
- 12
- 1
- 22
Hi All,
I've looked through several coops on this site- what would any newbie do without it... At this point, we have an idea of things needed, and things desired, but can't seem to get started with the planning. We obviously have to move fast since the chicks will need a home in a month or so and we can't get it together, quick enough.
Does anyone have a design they are willing to share? I'm in Colorado and have to deal with winters and high winds. We are also wondering how much we should predator proof the run. If you have a site where you bought designs, please share a link. I've looked at the "Garden Coop" but don't feel that's right for where we live. I've found 3 AutoCad designs on the site but that's all.
Oh, we are in a small city, so we have about 6'x10' to build a coop and run for 5 chickens. We will let them wander our enclosed backyard when we're home.
Predator proof runs-
1) is it necessary to predator proof the run if you put the hens away at night? Or, if we get an automated door and the hens go inside at night, will it be enough? We do go away on the weekends a lot, especially in the summer.
2) If we use chicken wire, covered with landscaping fabric on the bottom, it seems most add sand on top of the combo. But, how deep should it be if the chickens love to scratch and we want them to not hit the fabric or wire? I've read that people put leaves, straw, wood chips in the run because they like to scratch, and it encourages bugs, do you do this over the fabric/wire?
3 )I would rather not have the wire/fabric barrier so that they can pick at bugs and play in the dirt, etc. Is there another way to predator proof the run?
Thanks!
I've looked through several coops on this site- what would any newbie do without it... At this point, we have an idea of things needed, and things desired, but can't seem to get started with the planning. We obviously have to move fast since the chicks will need a home in a month or so and we can't get it together, quick enough.
Does anyone have a design they are willing to share? I'm in Colorado and have to deal with winters and high winds. We are also wondering how much we should predator proof the run. If you have a site where you bought designs, please share a link. I've looked at the "Garden Coop" but don't feel that's right for where we live. I've found 3 AutoCad designs on the site but that's all.
Oh, we are in a small city, so we have about 6'x10' to build a coop and run for 5 chickens. We will let them wander our enclosed backyard when we're home.
Predator proof runs-
1) is it necessary to predator proof the run if you put the hens away at night? Or, if we get an automated door and the hens go inside at night, will it be enough? We do go away on the weekends a lot, especially in the summer.
2) If we use chicken wire, covered with landscaping fabric on the bottom, it seems most add sand on top of the combo. But, how deep should it be if the chickens love to scratch and we want them to not hit the fabric or wire? I've read that people put leaves, straw, wood chips in the run because they like to scratch, and it encourages bugs, do you do this over the fabric/wire?
3 )I would rather not have the wire/fabric barrier so that they can pick at bugs and play in the dirt, etc. Is there another way to predator proof the run?
Thanks!
