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

[Over Easy in Adna]

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?

For a start it is good, however, the electric fence was a much better idea.......​

 

[Hillary and friend's eggs]

well, with all of the security measures I intended to take, the cost of the coop (only big enough for 12 chickens) was by my estimate going to cost $650+ to build! I think ill go with a covered dog kennel with a floor added to it. This will be much cheaper and I use the same setup for my birds. We both live on the same block in the suburbs, so we don't have raccoon, skunk, or other related problems. Evil dogs are the main issue.

And once again I ask: Does my plan sound good?

 

[BarkerChickens]

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?

Why do you need a floor for the run? Dirt is fine in most areas. Also, if you dig a trench around the coop and add cinder block (usually less a buck for a block) and let the coop be a dirt floor too. You can put hardwire cloth down and fill dirt over it as well to keep things from digging up into the coop. It may save you a little bit more money.

 

[CityChook]

A dog kennel for 12 chickens? Must be a big dog kennel.
I'd still go with electricity. It's not expensive and will deter diggers and climbers (as well as the two legged variety if need be). You can buy a small livestock (think: goats) rated fence controller for $20 and the cost of wire.
Is the reason electric wire won't work because they have no electric available at the site?
Why are you putting on TWO layers of hardware wire? If it's installed properly, and buried DEEPLY, then I layer should be sufficient, no?

My daughter's teacher just lost her entire flock this week to a neighbor's dog. It pulled the (stapled) wire right off the posts. I recommend washers/screws.

 

[littledel]

maybe a couple of electric fence wires on the outside of the pen. Then stand back and watch the dog get the shock of his life. LOL

 

[Hillary and friend's eggs]

ok the reason that electricity is bad is because the family has young children that would get shocked as badly as the dog.

I found i'll need only 1 layer of hardware cloth and will use 2 by 4s rather than 4 by 4s for the frame. that cuts down the cost a lot.

Oh and I think I will use the washer/screw idea. Thanks for the idea!