How to predator-proof this coop. Wwyd.

[21hens-incharge]

Yep I definitely don’t want a male! And yes first time with chickens, aside from them being around as a kid. I was never responsible for them, so I don’t remember much!
I’m getting them from a local place and they do have a rooster take back guarantee, and then will replace it with another chick, but I don’t really want to have to raise chicks again, right after raising this batch if that makes sense. I suppose I’ll have to if like 3 end up being roosters, but maybe I’ll just get 7. Then I have one for insurance since it’s a pretty safe bet that 1 will be a rooster out of 7 right?? Or is sexing more accurate than I’m imagining?

For real....I have raised close to 200 birds over the years.
I have only had 3 or 4 accidental roisters out of the sexed birds I bought.

View attachment 1936096 I was looking at the pic of the interior of the coop, picturing bigger windows where the holes are now, and I’m wondering, wouldn’t that be a lot of cold air blowing right on the hens roosting bars while they are trying to sleep??? Pic attached again.

If you make awning style windows you can open them in good weather for ventilation and light. In rain that style helps keep rain out.

I made awning style windows and even in winter I open them.

I will post a couple pics.....


These are on the south side of my large coop. Yes that is snow. I used the pieces I cut out to make the window covers. Piano hinge at the top and 1x3 framing for rigidity as well as forming the overlap into the window frame.

This pic was taken during construction. Those "black" windows are before I got the covers built. I had them covered in black plastic.
My roosts run left to right along that back section.....right below the window frame.

I have more ventilation in the open soffits on both long sides of the coop.

No frostbitten birds in the 5+ years since I built this coop.

I open the south and east windows even in winter as long as the wind is not whipping. I close them at night.

 

[doublecrossranch]

Genius!! How do you do it? Like how do you attach it to the wood? Sorry if it’s a dumb question.

Some sort of floor adhesive I git at Menards. ReStore has cheap floor!

 

[doublecrossranch]

I have lost 4 chicks and I only started in April

 

[aart]

I would not use adhesive for the vinyl as you may need to replace it eventually.
Lay flat right to edge and use 1x strips of wood screwed to wall to keep edges of vinyl down.

I don't use glue or nails or staples....just drywall and deck screws.
Makes it much easier to fix any screwups.

It's not how bad you f-f-f-f-f-fowl it it up, it's how well you fix it.

 

[Cryss]

I do plan to lock them in the coop at night. You don’t think a brazen raccoon would come bother them during the day while I’m not home?

My breeder also guarantees gender with a replacement of pullets for any returned cockerels. He also offers brooding services, something you might want to ask about. For an additional fee he will raise my chicks until they are able to live outside, usually somewhere between 5-7 weeks. I don't have to mess with brooding and worry about raising a bunch of cockerels that I can't find homes for and I'm not prepared to dispatch for the crime of being male. It's worth the money.
And yes, raccoons will come out in the daytime. So will rats, weasel, mice, snakes, the neighbors dogs, cats, and anything else that eats meat cuz, hey, chickens taste good! Raccoons can reach through chicken wire and rip off the birds heads. They also will circle the run to scare the birds into a corner. Chickens aren't smart enough to stand in the middle of the run, they will huddle in a corner. The ones on the outside of the huddle trap the ones closest to the fence so they can't run and hide. Easy pickings for a predator. There are several critters that can get through a 1 inch hole so cover all openings with nothing larger than 1/2 inch. Btw, the gauge of the 1/2 inch hardware cloth is thicker and stronger than the 1/4inch hardware cloth. You'll find 1/2inch being the most reccomended covering. I even have it over the top of my run.

As for your coop, yes your vents are going to blow on the chickens. Good that your roosts are higher than the nests, that's what you want! Winter breezes( ! ) blowing on chicken heads in Colorado (or even New Jersey) will result in frost bit combs at best, dead frozen chickens at worst. Yes, ventilation is best up as high as possible. I think my move would be to close up current bent holes, add a foot or more above the birds heads with a slanted roof, and put strips of ventilation at the top just under the roof, covered in hardware cloth of course. Btw don't just staple the hardware cloth into place. Add screws with washers for strength. Staples can be stripped out easily.

I can't tell how much roost space you have but just so you know, 1 foot per bird with minimally 2 feet between any parallel roosts and minimally 1 foot away from a wall. I wouldn't go any higher with roosts because they'd need more room to fly/jump up and down.

Locks. If a five year old can open it so can a raccoon. I like the bolt type that has a hole in the back end where you can hook a carribiner through.

How lucky are you! Coop already there AND its on concrete! You've got a great start! Good luck.

 

[K0k0shka]

Locks. If a five year old can open it so can a raccoon.

Aw come on. My 5-year-old is offended. She can operate a key and even remember and enter the combination on our house's keypad lock. And so can my 3-year-old. Raccoons are smart, but not THAT smart. Or nimble-fingered. More like young toddler level - grabbing, pulling and rotating things. A hasp with a carabiner through it should be enough.

 

[Cryss]

Aw come on. My 5-year-old is offended. She can operate a key and even remember and enter the combination on our house's keypad lock. And so can my 3-year-old. Raccoons are smart, but not THAT smart. Or nimble-fingered. More like young toddler level - grabbing, pulling and rotating things. A hasp with a carabiner through it should be enough.

No offense meant to your 5 year old. I'd just rather over estimate a raccoons fine motor skills (which are pretty impressive!) than under estimate. Always a good idea to leave room for error.

 

[K0k0shka]

No offense meant to your 5 year old. I'd just rather over estimate a raccoons fine motor skills (which are pretty impressive!) than under estimate. Always a good idea to leave room for error.

I was mostly joking just to ease people's minds that raccoons aren't that advanced. But better safe than sorry, definitely.

 

[Cryss]

I was mostly joking just to ease people's minds that raccoons aren't that advanced. But better safe than sorry, definitely.

Yeah, I got it that you were joking, and apologizing to your 5 year old made for a good segway into explaining over/under estimates.
Me? I like believing raccoons can unlock my bank vault, set up a dining table inside, grill my chickens, and invite their family to a chicken dinner. Keeps me on my toes.

 

[aart]

Aw come on. My 5-year-old is offended. She can operate a key and even remember and enter the combination on our house's keypad lock. And so can my 3-year-old. Raccoons are smart, but not THAT smart. Or nimble-fingered. More like young toddler level - grabbing, pulling and rotating things. A hasp with a carabiner through it should be enough.

I got the joke!
Raccoons are nimble and smart, but I'd never compare them to a human child.