If I'd only known, this is what I would've done different thread

[chicks4kids]

This is a thread for those of us who have found ourselves saying IF I'D ONLY KNOWN, THIS IS WHAT I WOULD'VE DONE DIFFERENT

Here's mine.....I have a coop with a kennel attached to the back.......

Had I known that the neighbors cat would dig underneath that kennel run in the back, I would have put some fencing down (up 8" or so on the fence and out on the ground) to deter the cat, (no to eliminate the cat from digging underneath). Instead, not knowing, I lost one our favorite birds one night in the comfort and safety of it's home. The day after that happened, there were changes. The fence is down and not one bird has gotten snatched from its coop.

What's your experience? Share it with us so others can learn before the loss.

 

[TriciaHowe]

sorry for your loss. I have never heard of a cat digging to get a chicken. Are you sure it wasn't a coon or something else?

 

[chicks4kids]

Oh yeah, it was the neighbors cat. We caught it trying to get into the coop the very next night..........But it couldn't. I had "cat proofed" it

 

[heatherindeskies]

I put a sidewalk alongside 2 sides of my barn.... predators would have to dig a mighty long time to get under it, and as a bonus it is so nice to walk on during muddy springtime. I wish i could afford to to the remainder, but the barn is 56 X 64.

 

[woodmort]

I would have fixed the mouse-chewed hole under the door--it was big enough that it allowed a weasel access. I've replaced the door and covered the lower part with sheet metal.

 

[TriciaHowe]

I would have buried the fencing like I wanted to instead of listening to my FIL. Now I am constantly fixing the bottom fence to keep the younger chicks in... How aggravating. Next time I KNOW to do it my way!!!!

 

[fwschrom]

When I built my runs I figured I would get something digging, bound to happen, cat-coon-dog-skunk. What I did is dig a trench about 14 inches deep and 18 wide and lay wire in the trench and nail to the bottom board. If I had to do it over I would use 18" welded wire. But it would take a seriously smart preditor to start a tunnel a couple of feet back from the run and tunnel under the wire. Imagine a capitol "L" rolled 45 degrees counterclockwise. Best would be pouring concrete, thats a lot more trouble and expense.

So far digging has been my chickens on the inside digging holes.

 

[gjpaddles]

I dug and buried some block (Like the one used to make block walls). I Have 2 dogs, that are now chicken trained, and I sometimes dog sit. The block is mostly buried except for an inch that sticks up above the ground.

 

[AllTheseCreatures]

I wish I had known more about predators to begin with. All the books I read about chickens when I first bought my batch of chicks, mentioned them briefly but provided no specific information. Predictably, I lost them all. Hawks, weasels and raccoons. We've built 3 runs and the one I presently have is 12 x 14 and completely enclosed in 1" poultry netting, even the floor. I've only lost 1 chicken to a hawk, when I let them out into the yard last fall to clean up the garden.

I wish I had known not to bring chickens from other flocks into mine. That has been a disaster. Really dumb newbie mistake.

Also, I wish I had found BYC earlier.

I would have designed my roosts and nesting boxes differently. You guys have already revolutionized the way I feed and water them.

 

[CMV]

If I'd only known that chickens would have become such a big part of our life I'd have built a bigger coop in the first place! And I would have spent more money on the coop initially because I used all re-cycled materials that have basically disintegrated in the intervening years. Live and learn!