Helpful hints for building coops

[Molpet]

update on the wildlife zoo
one of the skunks came back at mid day and ate the cat's food. when he saw Annie, he ducked into the wood chuck's hole. i am afraid the wood chuck will destroy my tomatoes. i would like to trap him, but there is the good chance i could catch the skunk instead. all this is taking place right at the small door into the garage. we closed the door. i hope i don't have to sss .

After returning varmints, The majority of the time I SSS anymore.

 

[jvls1942]

Annie sprayed pest repellant all around the wood chuck hole. for a few days we didn't see him or the skunk. last night we found out that wood chucks are nocturnal. he was pushing on the garage door . i assume he could smell the cat's food. well, mr. chucky, i will give you some cat food.,.....
yesterday my bib lettuce and carrots sprouted on the same day .
I planted the short variety of carrots. not the stubby kind. these are supposed to be like Nante's,.
4 to 6 inches long.

 

[Molpet]

Annie sprayed pest repellant all around the wood chuck hole. for a few days we didn't see him or the skunk. last night we found out that wood chucks are nocturnal. he was pushing on the garage door . i assume he could smell the cat's food. well, mr. chucky, i will give you some cat food.,.....
yesterday my bib lettuce and carrots sprouted on the same day .
I planted the short variety of carrots. not the stubby kind. these are supposed to be like Nante's,.
4 to 6 inches long.

Few years ago I had a box trap set by the garbage cans, baited with eggs that didn't hatch and a dead poult. In the morning nothing had touched it. 2 hrs later a wood chuck caught... the eggs and poult were gone. I didn't know they ate those

 

[Sally PB]

2 hrs later a wood chuck caught... the eggs and poult were gone. I didn't know they ate those

Huh. I have been told that wood chucks are vegetarians. I wouldn't have thought he'd go for eggs. Interesting.

 

[Smokerbill]

Huh. I have been told that wood chucks are vegetarians. I wouldn't have thought he'd go for eggs. Interesting.

You'd think squirrels are vegan too, but they're actually omnivores. I imagine a ground hog would eat protein too if it felt the need.

 

[HensJoy]

While researching on the web, I have found a suggestion to use a 2X4 as a roost with the 3 1/2" side laying flat. And then while looking at some of the posted interior pictures of members coops I found some which appear to be just that. What is correct roosting design?

 

[fuzzi]

While researching on the web, I have found a suggestion to use a 2X4 as a roost with the 3 1/2" side laying flat. And then while looking at some of the posted interior pictures of members coops I found some which appear to be just that. What is correct roosting design?

That is the type of roost I use. The chickens have a secure place to spend the night, and if it gets really cold they can sit on their feet.

 

[jvls1942]

interesting that a chuck would eat a chicken.
i am going to have to trap this one. we have some over the hill peaches that i will use for bait.
i had roosts 16ft long. i used 2x6 on edge,. i had turkeys and chickens on them.
a 2x4 laying on the flat side will sag.
to strengthen it, fasten a 2x4 or 2x6 on edge right in the center of the roost board. it will resemble a T
a 1x6 would even give it a lot of stiffness.