HELP! Coop Advice

[luvliebee]

This is a coop we, My grandmother (WPC1) and I (WPC2), were given. The roof looks slanted but it is not. We think it was used as a rabbit hutch.

We are going to build on nesting boxes off of the far side and create a door on the near side in order to have access for cleaning. We plan to build a structure around it: similar to this...



We have other questions though:

+ We plan to "lime wash" the inside. What experiences have you all had, if any?
+ Should there be fixed food and water inside the coop year round or only have it available inside in the winter?
+ Best predator prevention methods? We live in rural Missouri.
+We are asking family and friends for old screen doors and such to create the run, this should be reinforced correct?

More to come I'm sure!

Thank you for any information you can give!

-WPC2

 

[luvliebee]

Is there a paint safe for chickens?

- WPC2

 

[RonP]

What predators do you have to protect your birds from?

 

[6of6chicks]

What predators do you have to protect your birds from?

That made me giggle. Isn't the answer, "All of them?"

My advice (for what it's worth):

High-gloss paint. Super easy to clean.

Hardware cloth + additional wire fencing if you've got big predators, like dogs, coyotes, or bears. Possibly consider electric fencing if necessary.

I have food & water in the coop AND the run, but most people it seems only put it in the run. I like food & water in there because I like to hit the snooze button on the weekends and my sleepy behind isn't always out there at 6:15 on the dot. When I didn't have food in there they were frantic to get out and nearly trampled each other getting down the ramp to the feeder (and we're only talking 30 min. late or so!). With food and water in there they are much less stressed and don't really care if I'm not out there at the crack of dawn.

Yes, reinforce screen doors. Take the screen mesh out and replace with hardware cloth. Screen is useless - if you can punch through it then so can determined predators.

Good luck and be sure to post pics!

 

[luvliebee]

What predators do you have to protect your birds from?

I know we have raccoons, possums, owls, hawks(?), coyotes (but the dogs keep them from getting close.)

We live is rural Missouri, in-between Washington and Union.

Today I "lime-washed" the inside of the coop that we have constructed. It works like a white wash. It's non-toxic, sealing, non-peeling and bug resistant.

-WPC2

 

[RonP]

So you have a bad predator problem.

As others suggested, you'll need a very secure enclosure to protect your birds.

Hardware cloth + additional wire fencing if you've got big predators, like dogs, coyotes, or bears. Possibly consider electric fencing if necessary.

Yes, reinforce screen doors. Take the screen mesh out and replace with hardware cloth. Screen is useless - if you can punch through it then so can determined predators.

Good luck and be sure to post pics!

 

[mkeawsh]

Since getting the solar blinking red lights for the past six years ago, I have not had a problem with any predators from dusk to dawn and Buddy, my GP protects them during the day.
Have even forgot to take the eggs off the top of the chicken tractor at night and they are still all there the next day. Nothing ever gets close and we hear the coyotes, owls etc. but that is as far as it goes.

 

[luvliebee]

Here is an update on our Coop Renovation!

(This will link you to our Youtube.

)
You will see my (WPC2) face and here my voice.

I am keeping a video log as well as photographs on out Google+ (You can get to our page by clicking our name in the signature.

)

Let me know what you think!

 

[RonP]

Great video log, keep them coming!

 

[luvliebee]

Great video log, keep them coming!

Thank you!

- WPC2