Hello Fellow chicken mama’s!
I thought I’d share with you the lengths we went to to protect our hens. If you like us, we are surrounded by woods for miles and we have our fair share of predators. My hens can’t free range safely.
Ranging from snakes to bears and bobcats. We needed a sturdy fool proof coop and run, so this is what we did:
1. Coop is anchored into cinder blocks with cement/mortar and sits on mortared pavers for the floor
2. Double layer hardwire cloth on both runs
3. Hasp locks with carabiner on all doors and windows
4. Welded wire buried 2feet around the larger run that extends 2 feet up the walls
5. Larger slate rock off the back of the large run where the ground naturally washes away and is on a slope
6. Retaining wall to decrease water flow into run and hold dirt in place from main coop
7. Tunnel connecting both runs is made with 2x4s, double layer of hardwire cloth, aluminum roof, vinyl flooring, and for easy cleaning roof lifts up and secured with hasp locks/hinges- it’s like a sky walk for chickens!
8. Aluminum Automatic doors on both runs that are dawn to dusk and let the girls in and out
I am happy to report this coop and runs have withstood two bear attempts and several foxes without any losses or repairs! Phewww hard work paid off.
I thought I’d share with you the lengths we went to to protect our hens. If you like us, we are surrounded by woods for miles and we have our fair share of predators. My hens can’t free range safely.
Ranging from snakes to bears and bobcats. We needed a sturdy fool proof coop and run, so this is what we did:
1. Coop is anchored into cinder blocks with cement/mortar and sits on mortared pavers for the floor
2. Double layer hardwire cloth on both runs
3. Hasp locks with carabiner on all doors and windows
4. Welded wire buried 2feet around the larger run that extends 2 feet up the walls
5. Larger slate rock off the back of the large run where the ground naturally washes away and is on a slope
6. Retaining wall to decrease water flow into run and hold dirt in place from main coop
7. Tunnel connecting both runs is made with 2x4s, double layer of hardwire cloth, aluminum roof, vinyl flooring, and for easy cleaning roof lifts up and secured with hasp locks/hinges- it’s like a sky walk for chickens!
8. Aluminum Automatic doors on both runs that are dawn to dusk and let the girls in and out
I am happy to report this coop and runs have withstood two bear attempts and several foxes without any losses or repairs! Phewww hard work paid off.
