Feedback on coop ideas-In garage with opening to outside pen?Tractor?

[limabean]

Keep it simple. Yes. And don't overthink, right? I do need that reminder!

So how about the desire to have them moving from section to section of the yard - for the good of the lawn and the good of the chickens (fresh grass & bugs to peck at). Maybe just free-range them as I can (when I'm out there)? Orrrrr....I'm having a crazy vision right now of a long flexible hose-type tunnel they could get to and from tractor and garage..!??!?!

 

[morelcabin]

Haha limabean...you could probably patten that idea if you could make it work

A flexible hose with no bottom so they can free range in a different spot everyday...LOL!
I would just let them out when you are there. I tried chicken tractor ideas...can't say I like them much. THey are heavy and awkward and you never feel like moving them anyway...at least in my experience.
My birds are always free when I am home, but have a safe pen enclosure when I am not. I trained mine to go in when I need them to...it is easy, they are food driven...

 

[limabean]

I totally could not make it work. I am not handy AT ALL. And while my father-in-law is exceedingly handy and an exceptionally agreeable fellow....well, that's just alot to ask of someone already doing free labour!

 

[limabean]

Oooh, okay, all this new info is generating more questions. With a fixed pen, will I need to put fencing in underground for protection from digging predators? This would be a huge challenge as we have ridiculously rocky soil. Maybe that means the animals would have as much trouble digging as us? Seriously, if you tell me I have to do that, I'm throwing the towel in. I can barely dig deep enough for little annual flower seedlings.

 

[allieloveschickens]

If your garage stays cool then I think you will have some happy chickens. I let my girls free range while I am at work, cats are not an issue for adult birds, but raccoons certainly are. We have raccoons, opossums, coyotes, hawks, owls etc. but most of them are nocturnal, so as long as the chickens are locked up come sun down there wasn't any problem. Large hawks can take grown birds, but I never had any attempts made on my girls. There are things you can do to deter hawks- such as hanging cds or other shiny objects around the yard that will shine and twist in the light. But I like the suggestion of building a pen outside the garage window, then they could be outside safely fenced in unless you were home to watch them free range. It's up to you! I raised BRs for a while, they are great birds, very good layers too! Never had an RIR. Of my current flock I really love my Black Australorp, very sweet.

edited to answer the burying question: you don't have to bury, you can put a wire skirt around the pen to stop critters from digging in!

 

[limabean]

Allieloveschickens, are you saying I don't need to worry about underground protection?

Coyotes could be an issue here too, but just at night, I'd guess.

 

[limabean]

POsted at the same time. Wire skirt? What's that?

 

[morelcabin]

I can assure you that the animals will have just as much trouble digging as you would...so if it is that rocky, don't worry too much about it...PLUS you have a 6 foot fence all around your yard to begin with.
A wire skirt would be chicken wire or hardware cloth that you lay mostly on the ground, but partly up the fencing so that animals cannot dig under the fence. I oaften use pavers all around the run instead, or even just large enough rocks

 

[limabean]

Okay, I thought that's what it was but was uncertain. And thank you for the reassurance, morelcabin!

I'm having some trouble wrapping my head around the idea of just a pen in the garage, not a coop.....it's just so outside everything I'd visualized! It won't be too drafty? They don't need the "feel" of a cozy protected spot? Should it be right on the cement floor, or raised up on something with it's own solid floor???

 

[morelcabin]

It can be right on the cement floor if you want it that way, just use lots of bedding during winter because the concrete can be cold, but they will perch if it gets that cold. They don't need anything cosy...just draft free. I don't heat my coops either, just ventelate, and none of my coops to date have even been insulated, but they are double walled.