First post, first chickens, first coop

[jovial_cynic]

And... more pictures.

My 4-year old wanted to name the hens "bambi" and "mimi," but I already had some names picked out.

Original

Extra Crispy

Extra Crispy is in charge. She pecks at Original's tail feathers. You can see how much fuller Extra Crispy's tail looks.


And here's the padlock I mentioned previously:

It's a little inconvenient, but the added protection is worth it to me. I literally have raccoons walking through my yard every night.

 

[johnmayersquare]

That looks awesome! Great job! Thanks so much for sharing

 

[Jolyn]

Quote:
Your link isn't working for me!! Could you post it again? I'd love to see your set up!

 

[fowltemptress]

Could you use a clip instead of a padlock to cut back on the inconvenience? Or are raccoons too intelligent for that? I would think it would work.

 

[Chirpy]

I think the only thing that raccoons can't open is a padlock!!

With their very nimble fingers (and thumb) they can undo pretty much anything a person can... snaps, clips, etc.

I would keep the padlock on since you have them visit every night.

 

[jovial_cynic]

Yup - the padlock is going to stay on. I've watched too many documentaries on raccoons -- they are clever critters.

 

[the simple life]

When the animal control officer came to my house today to inspect my property so that I could get a permit to keep chickens, he asked me if I knew about huskies.
He told me that as far as dogs go they are absolutely relentless about getting at chickens, more than any other breed.
He said they are as bad as the coyotes around here.
He told me that they will grab the wire at the posts around the coop/run in their mouths and pull and pull until the wire gives or they rip all their teeth out.
He was serious about them ripping their teeth out and still not giving up,he said he had seen it too many times.
I never heard of that before and I never would have thought they would be that aggressive.
So here I was worried about the raccoons and trying to outwit them and he tells me that I need to worry about the huskies and make sure all the wire is triple reinforced around the posts because thats where they go to work on it until it gives.

 

[Colored Egg Farmer]

Make sure you got some heavy duty fenceing staples. Nothing has gottien through my wire not even me falling into it. Yea it hurt a bit.

 

[EllyMae]

I love love love that pic with the cat peeking around the corner! They are such tigers under those cat suits, LOL

 

[the simple life]

OUCH!!
Thanks for the tip, I am keeping a notebook of all the information you experts have been giving out.
I would hate to build something that I later wish I had done differently.That seems to happen to me alot. LOL
I will take my trusty notebook and draw up my coop/run plans.