High or Low?

[Creteloc]

The shed is almost done and ready to 'chickenize'. So my question is... is it better to put the chicken door at ground level or elevate it with ramps inside and out?

Remember... I have rat issues. I'm not sure if the location of the door even matters were rats are concerned.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Rats climb ramps, I don't think it matters.

Ground level is my preference... no need to add EXTRA cost, and effort. Mine has a 6 inch lip.

I have others with ramps.. not all chicks are smart enough to get up it if mum jumps quickly to where they can't easily reach.

Good luck on your rat problem! They are chick/chicken predators. I may never beat them by trapping and not use poison. But I WILL get everyone I can. And I collect my feed at night so all they can get is shrapnel and aren't allowed to unnaturally breed out of control on a never ending food source.

 

[Creteloc]

This exact second I have them under control. I haven't seen one in 3 weeks by poisoning and cutting off their food supply. I can't cut off their water because I have a natural creek running through my property. I invested in a no-spill feeder that I am in love with! No more food all over the floor.

The rats though live in my neighbors shed, so given a millisecond of a chance, they will be back en masse. So though I say I have them under control, I realize that could change at any time.

I'll keep the door on the floor if it won't affect the rats at all. I like the idea of a lip though. My new door is a doggy door. I'm going to 'attempt' to get the chickens to use the flap, hoping to stop the cold Utah drafts in the winter and stop the debris. We'll see how that goes. I can always remove the flap and just use the opening with locking ability at night.

 

[aart]

My thoughts on the height of things:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-should-stuff-be.73427/

....and for anti-dig aprons, which might help in your rat fight:
Good examples of apron installation, tho I'd not recommend 1/2" HC...go with 14ga 1x2 or 1x1, will hold up much longer and is easier to lay flat.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[Cindy in PA]

If you put it at ground level will there be any lip on it to keep the bedding from falling out? Mine is about 8 inches above the floor so I can keep the bedding in during the winter. My ramp is just a short one & not very steep at all.

 

[Creteloc]

I wasn't going to but now I'm going to put a 6-8" lip on it.

 

[Creteloc]

My thoughts on the height of things:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-should-stuff-be.73427/

....and for anti-dig aprons, which might help in your rat fight:
Good examples of apron installation, tho I'd not recommend 1/2" HC...go with 14ga 1x2 or 1x1, will hold up much longer and is easier to lay flat.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

I love this idea. However, one side of my chicken run is about 6" from my neighbor's fence because my yard is sloped. It's the only flat surface to put a coop and run. It's that neighbor that has the shed full of rats. Would you happen to have ANY idea how I could achieve that level of protection without being able to lay hardware cloth out 2 feet? I can't go down 2 feet because I also live on a mountain, so about 4" down becomes pure rock.

I tried lying HC down 4" but the rats just dug under it and into the run.

 

[aart]

I love this idea. However, one side of my chicken run is about 6" from my neighbor's fence because my yard is sloped. It's the only flat surface to put a coop and run. It's that neighbor that has the shed full of rats. Would you happen to have ANY idea how I could achieve that level of protection without being able to lay hardware cloth out 2 feet? I can't go down 2 feet because I also live on a mountain, so about 4" down becomes pure rock.

I tried lying HC down 4" but the rats just dug under it and into the run.

I have no experience with rats, thank goodness, but from what I've read...poison is the best, and sometimes only, solution. There's a certain kind of poison that has low secondary kill risks, but I don't know which one it is, sorry.

 

[Creteloc]

I do use poison and right now have them under control, but they'll be back. I'm looking at a way to keep them out of the run when they do come back and until the poison kicks in. Plus, keeping the voles, mice, raccoons, and skunks out with that 6" only gap between the run and the back fence.

 

[aart]

I do use poison and right now have them under control, but they'll be back. I'm looking at a way to keep them out of the run when they do come back and until the poison kicks in. Plus, keeping the voles, mice, raccoons, and skunks out with that 6" only gap between the run and the back fence.

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