Greenhouse Coop Conversion

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Hi! I don't get on here much since the site updates, and can't find my way around any more.

The only breakin we've had is a raccoon that managed to pry a cattle panel door open. We have several ways to avoid that now. If you don't want anything digging under a "loose" coop, set it on sections of cattle panel.

We're doing a whole revamp of stuff now. We split the long layer coop into three pieces, added planter boxes to one side, made roll-ups for the side curtains, revamped the nest boxes.
 

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LeslieDJoyce said:
Hi! I don't get on here much since the site updates, and can't find my way around any more.

The only breakin we've had is a raccoon that managed to pry a cattle panel door open. We have several ways to avoid that now. If you don't want anything digging under a "loose" coop, set it on sections of cattle panel.

We're doing a whole revamp of stuff now. We split the long layer coop into three pieces, added planter boxes to one side, made roll-ups for the side curtains, revamped the nest boxes.
Click to expand...
Thank you for re-joining the discussion! Great idea with the cattle panels..... I just get over-worried the spaces are to large and fox might get in... certainly you've found great ways to offset that... i can't really see anything digging way under your platers and up through cattle panels! Thank you!
 
For those greenhouse coops we dug a trench around them. We extended the hardware cloth down into the ditch. We put drainage pipe in the ditch. Then we backfilled with river rock. That goes all the way around. (We also put a bed of sand inside the coops for extra drainage, just in case.) Then the planter boxes on the west side also discourage digging by larger predators on that side, the west side is the side with afternoon sun and strong evening breezes ... I'm thinking the boxes will serve as a wind break and block some of the heat during the warmest part of the day. Should help keep the coops comfy & cozy. Maybe. We'll see. I hope no raccoons use them as platforms to attack the roofs of the coops ... we haven't reinforced the roofs, though really you'd want some kind of wire there, too ... hardware cloth is expensive and we haven't had that problem yet, so haven't taken that step.

Right now it's summer so we have to mist the roofs when it's hot and sunny. We will plant more fruit trees in strategic spots for more complete summer shade. In the shade the coops are super comfortable.

The chunks of cattle panels on the ground work under a mobile cattle panel hoop coop with PVC frame we have. They can be moved relatively easily when we move the coop. Not something I'd want to do every day unless I had to. Also work in places you can't trench, like over major tree roots you don't want to disturb. Or along the side of a T-post anchored cattle panel coop. That's pretty effective to discourage digging if you don't leave gaps. Determined predators love gaps.

We have hawks, coyotes, owls, and raccoons/possums/skunks to worry about here. So far no fox or weasels or snakes or bears. This year chipmunks are getting my feed & eggs when the coop doors are open for the free-range bird. We found a cool trap for the squirrels. The larger predators seem discouraged by minimal fencing (lots of other options for food in the fields and woods). Hawk net protects the littles until they're up to size. Enough roosts inside the coop means the birds go to bed indoors where the owls don't hunt.

It seems to be as much about being responsive as it is about being prepared. No coop is going to be perfect.
 
LeslieDJoyce said:
For those greenhouse coops we dug a trench around them. We extended the hardware cloth down into the ditch. We put drainage pipe in the ditch. Then we backfilled with river rock. That goes all the way around. (We also put a bed of sand inside the coops for extra drainage, just in case.) Then the planter boxes on the west side also discourage digging by larger predators on that side, the west side is the side with afternoon sun and strong evening breezes ... I'm thinking the boxes will serve as a wind break and block some of the heat during the warmest part of the day. Should help keep the coops comfy & cozy. Maybe. We'll see. I hope no raccoons use them as platforms to attack the roofs of the coops ... we haven't reinforced the roofs, though really you'd want some kind of wire there, too ... hardware cloth is expensive and we haven't had that problem yet, so haven't taken that step.

Right now it's summer so we have to mist the roofs when it's hot and sunny. We will plant more fruit trees in strategic spots for more complete summer shade. In the shade the coops are super comfortable.

The chunks of cattle panels on the ground work under a mobile cattle panel hoop coop with PVC frame we have. They can be moved relatively easily when we move the coop. Not something I'd want to do every day unless I had to. Also work in places you can't trench, like over major tree roots you don't want to disturb. Or along the side of a T-post anchored cattle panel coop. That's pretty effective to discourage digging if you don't leave gaps. Determined predators love gaps.

We have hawks, coyotes, owls, and raccoons/possums/skunks to worry about here. So far no fox or weasels or snakes or bears. This year chipmunks are getting my feed & eggs when the coop doors are open for the free-range bird. We found a cool trap for the squirrels. The larger predators seem discouraged by minimal fencing (lots of other options for food in the fields and woods). Hawk net protects the littles until they're up to size. Enough roosts inside the coop means the birds go to bed indoors where the owls don't hunt.

It seems to be as much about being responsive as it is about being prepared. No coop is going to be perfect.
Click to expand...
My boyfriend keeps telling me I want to knock them up like fort knox. lol.. yes I guess none are perfect. We've figured out a way to give lots of space frugally.
 
I can't seem to win the discussion fox protection. Maybe someone can help me see reason. Charlie, my first cockerel had a short life. I learned too fast-but too slow as he was the 4th chicken to die. I thought the others just walked out through errors. I heard CHARLIE ... the noise 3:30 am. If it would have registered sooner... but it didn't. It registered in time to stop having his body carried off :( My avatar is Charlie's dad. I was torn apart. That was 3-4 weeks after I got him. It was love at first site seeing him and his dad. I decided I was never going to forget them, especially Charlie. Everything would be safe from now on. So is it reasonable that if we build a solid Coop barn with no floor (compost), I still feel the need for 1/2 hardwire flanging out maybe 18 inches in addition to the two cinderblocks in a trench (10-12" deep)? My BF (who is wonderful about me getting 250 chickens in months) says the fox would have to dig a foot down and a foot back up to get inside. That seems like reasonable protection. There will be no run - about 4 sq ft per bird and they will free-range on nicer days. I know you don't have fox problems. I must be insane to think that a fox could do that, but I guess I just need reassurance from someone with fox problems that the bricks alone will be ok.
LeslieDJoyce I probably will sendup using cattle panel but i still fear because holes are big enough for foxes. I'm hoping someone with fox experience says the bricks are okay.. Fortunately it will be built on high ground, so we will put some crushed shells on bottom instead of sand and build on that. I think your planters will Barn coop safer. The fox would have to dig under that plus the bricks- I wouldn't need hardwire cloth (a fortune for a building that big)- So.. it's hot here in NJ also..up to last week a heat waver. The flock here had misters :) WE use the hose for the free-range areas but never thought about the coops.. good idea to help with evening cool down :)
 
aart said:
Would be good to start your own thread ;)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance.9/create-thread
Click to expand...
wow.. thank you for the idea.. maybe when I come up for air. lol. yes we will be subtracting at some point :) I just wanted to do so much, from market some breeds and eggs, showing, herein engaged breeds, getting my kids involved, etc. So we figured start and monitor many breeds (mostly duel/heritage) fins the ones we'd like to keep and permanently inc=vest in (our time, etc) and grow.... hopefully we can hep and endangered breed or 2 if we can fit them into our marketing, and I have some ideas, and have done some research... just hoping I don't step in cecal along the way. lol Well figuratively.. I think literally it is impossible to miss. lol. That was nice of you-really to suggest. I've had so much help on here and now being able to give back a little. That seems like something I may do after construction. Have a great finish to your summer. Keep you and the peeps cool!
 
Charlie's Chickens said:
I can't seem to win the discussion fox protection. Maybe someone can help me see reason. Charlie, my first cockerel had a short life. I learned too fast-but too slow as he was the 4th chicken to die. I thought the others just walked out through errors. I heard CHARLIE ... the noise 3:30 am. If it would have registered sooner... but it didn't. It registered in time to stop having his body carried off :( My avatar is Charlie's dad. I was torn apart. That was 3-4 weeks after I got him. It was love at first site seeing him and his dad. I decided I was never going to forget them, especially Charlie. Everything would be safe from now on. So is it reasonable that if we build a solid Coop barn with no floor (compost), I still feel the need for 1/2 hardwire flanging out maybe 18 inches in addition to the two cinderblocks in a trench (10-12" deep)? My BF (who is wonderful about me getting 250 chickens in months) says the fox would have to dig a foot down and a foot back up to get inside. That seems like reasonable protection. There will be no run - about 4 sq ft per bird and they will free-range on nicer days. I know you don't have fox problems. I must be insane to think that a fox could do that, but I guess I just need reassurance from someone with fox problems that the bricks alone will be ok.
LeslieDJoyce I probably will sendup using cattle panel but i still fear because holes are big enough for foxes. I'm hoping someone with fox experience says the bricks are okay.. Fortunately it will be built on high ground, so we will put some crushed shells on bottom instead of sand and build on that. I think your planters will Barn coop safer. The fox would have to dig under that plus the bricks- I wouldn't need hardwire cloth (a fortune for a building that big)- So.. it's hot here in NJ also..up to last week a heat waver. The flock here had misters :) WE use the hose for the free-range areas but never thought about the coops.. good idea to help with evening cool down :)
Click to expand...


I don't know how to just spot quote your post, so please forgive the chilunkiness here.

For cooling down, I'm not loving the black weed barrier much. I'm trying Aluminet next.

For keeping big diggers out of the coop area: consider the gauge of the wire. The thicker the wire, the longer it will last underground. 1/2" hardware cloth is great for keeping little critters from getting in, but underground it eventually dissolves. Something like fencing (not poultry net) is thicker and could last longer. Or maybe layers of things. Some of the Livestock panels have smaller openings, I think.

Probably electric fence is the wisest. One of my friends advocates electrified livestock panels. She has to deal with bears. Bears smash things. For diggers and climbers, a low electric wire and a high electric wire are said to be effective.

I agree there have to be fox prevention experts here. I just am not one of them. We have a doe jumping the fence to get to the chicken orchard, but we like her. Our fence is minimal but tallish (my chickens think they can fly). We had coyotes coming right into the back yard for lunch for a few days, then extended the fence a bit to enclose more of the yard, and that stopped. Some hens still get out, but they're the smarter ones that are harder to catch, so it's been a while since a coyote got a bird here. Probably shouldn't write that as the predators will see it as a challenge.

Good luck finding a solution you trust.
 

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