Emergency chicken move need advice!

[NoodlesMama]

If you leave them in their coop and are still nervous about being so far from them you could try a trail cam some you can view remotely to check on your phone or computer. It won’t put you right with them but it might offer some peace of mind.

 

[Raising Larry]

Please post a link to the product?

OOPS! Sorry! Here it is. http://www.ruggedranch.net/wood-chicken-coops.html
It was already set up when we got it. It's the Pueblo Grand one 4th down on this page

 

[aart]

How many birds do you have?
You might want to turn the whole thing into a coop.
Actual enclosed coop part looks to be 5' x 3'?

 

[Folly's place]

That's what I would do with it; enclose the north and west sides, at least, and make the whole thing a roofed coop.
Mary

 

[janiedoe]

I am so sorry for the loss of your dog and your home. I'm glad your family and your hens are safe.

 

[Raising Larry]

That's what I would do with it; enclose the north and west sides, at least, and make the whole thing a roofed coop.
Mary

Thank you!! I'm so glad I asked! The wind comes from the west & northwest here.

 

[Raising Larry]

How many birds do you have?
You might want to turn the whole thing into a coop.
Actual enclosed coop part looks to be 5' x 3'?

We have 3 red sexlinks. I love the idea of enclosing at least 2 more sides for them for wind protection. One of my concerns is critters digging through the wood on parts of the coop that don't have hardware cloth. (Do raccoons do that?)

Yes, the enclosed part is 5' X 3'. We hope they can 'free range' (with supervision) on nice days at the ranch we're locating to while the house is rebuilt. The ranch has black angus cattle.

 

[Xerocles]

Do you currently still have, or in the immediate future will have electricity on your property? Aside from other comments made already, to ease your mind and further protect your chickens, you may want to install an electric fence around the coop and run. If no electric, you could get solar. It's just a bit more expensive. 2 miles is a short drive to visit your chickens multiple times per day. At the very least in the morning to let them out end of the evening to put them away. And although I try to avoid this, there are sometimes several days in a row when this is all my chickens get to see me. And they seem as well adjusted as chickens can be. Always, always happy to see me.

 

[aart]

We have 3 red sexlinks. I love the idea of enclosing at least 2 more sides for them for wind protection. One of my concerns is critters digging through the wood on parts of the coop that don't have hardware cloth. (Do raccoons do that?)

Yes, the enclosed part is 5' X 3'. We hope they can 'free range' (with supervision) on nice days at the ranch we're locating to while the house is rebuilt. The ranch has black angus cattle.

Oh, 3 might be fine in there. Blocking part of the run portion of the coop/run combo might be good too tho.

Not likely they will chew thru the wood.

Good examples of anti-dig apron installation.
If rodents are prolific, burying the apron ~12" would be good.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wire-around-coop.1110498/#post-17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[NHMountainMan]

I’m sorry you had such a horrible experience. Glad you family is safe. If your worried about digging critters, you may want to consider attaching a hardware cloth skirt around the entire coop and run. Instead of digging and burying- especially if you are planning on moving the temporary coop back to your home site some day. Good luck