How do I keep an escape artist dog out of a chicken coop?

[Hillary and friend's eggs]

I have some cousins and they are very interested in owning chickens. Problem is their dog is a huge escape artist. The thing is a medium-sized dog that can chew through, bust through, and dig under standard wooden fences. I have the job of building the coop. My question: What do I use to dog-proof the coop? The cousins are crazy about chickens and they would like to have them asap. Any ideas anyone?

Thanks!

 

[88Haywood88]

Be sure to bury some chicken wire around the sides height wise. this wil keep the dog from digging under. Use sheet metal on the sides... That's all the ideas I have.

 

[cornpone]

shotgun !

 

[#1California Chick]

I installed 2x4 inch wire fence down 18 inches and out 12 inches all around my coop/run. Really discourages a dog/raccoon.

 

[chookchick]

Well, you would start with the standard predator-proofing. Use welded wire or chain link for the run (not chicken wire), double up the bottom 3 feet with 1/2 inch hardware cloth. A 3 foot welded wire apron going out around the entire perimeter of the run. A coop with a solid floor, sturdy latches at middle and bottom of every door. Cover the top of the run also. Then add electric fencing around the outside of the whole compound--at the base, about 2-3 feet up (nose height) and near top (jumping up height). Hopefully he will not have a lot of interest in the chickens, but they might want to start small, just in case.

 

[KKatknap]

HOT wire!

I would do a low, medium and high strand around the outside of your coop run - regardless of all other precautions you take.
Dogs seldom check it twice!

Also, if you can afford it, use hardware mesh in place of chicken wire. At least up to @ 3.5 - 4 feet. But I say juice that puppy.

Good luck!

 

[BarkerChickens]

For the coop itself, you can build it as normal and then staple hardwire cloth (not chicken wire as it is not as strong as hardwire cloth) to the wood siding. If looks are an issue, paint with primer afterwards and then paint the wood and wire whatever color you choose. The metal sheeting that Haywood mentioned is great too (as long as it isn't too hot there! I live in the SW US and the heat would probably be an issue).

For the run, there are a few things that you can do. Use hardwire cloth attached to the wood fencing, use hardwire cloth with wood framing...or (as I did), use chain link with hard wire cloth attached to it. I would recommend putting concrete or block down around the perimeter, or if using chain link, dig it down 6 inches or so. In addition, as many people on BYC have done with great success, is dug up the ground a few inches OUTSIDE of the run fencing, lay hardwire cloth or chicken wire down (attach it to the fencing to ensure it doesn't get pulled away) and then cover it back up. It doesn't look unsightly, but if the dog (or anything else for that matter) try to dig under the fence, he/she can't get too far.

If the run is built in a way that the coop door (for people entry) is on once side, but the rest of the coop is within the run, then you will only need to protect just one side of the wood coop frame (assuming you use wood) since the rest is protected by Fort Knox.

Good luck!!!

 

[Tala]

I have yet to meet a dog that I couldn't out-electrify. Met a Boxer once who thought he was he-man, but I got the best of him in the end.

I'm all about hadware cloth, welded wire and dig-proof skirts, but I would also add the electric fence too if I were up against chicken-eating dogs.

 

[BarkerChickens]

Quote:
VERY good point, Tala!!! I agree!! And if you keep the wire skirt above ground (use garden tacks to keep it from lifting up over time) and attach the wire to the outside of the fence, the chickens won't get electrocuted and the dog will get zapped good since he is standing on the wire. I know it sounds mean, but we use that for our wood fence around the property. One of dogs will test the wire with her nose to see if it is on and having her stand on the chicken wire while doing it helps. If the shock isn't strong enough, our dog will attempt to pull it off the wood fence.

Luckily (enphasis LUCKILY) she is very chicken friendly.

Oh...and the wire can be attached with plastic so the fence itself won't be electrified.

 

[Hillary and friend's eggs]

Thanks for the help!

Sadly I don't think electric fencing will be a good choice for the family I'm building the coop for. so far plans are: For run have sturdy floor, 2 layers of hardware cloth for the sides, thick 3"x3" wood for frame, and the thickest pieces of wood for coop. Also, any windows would be high above the dog's reach and would be stapled with hardware cloth from the inside. Any doors would have 2 to 3 locks on them and 3+ secure hinges secured with screws or bolts.

does this sound good?