Just beginning - what is the best coop to start with?

[cmom]

I got a lot of ideas from this page....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/coopdesigns.html

 

[digitS']

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I am completely aware that ID is not in the UK but I am an admirer of the British coops. Some, just look like what would work with your idea for using a dog house even if this isn't a source for a purchase. Grosvenor Junior Poultry House

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That is a good question. Digging under the portable coop can be made more difficult by having a horizontal apron of hardware cloth surrounding the run.
Welcome to BYC

!!

Steve

 

[patandchickens]

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Well, that isnt necessarily any different than a *run*, right?

The easiest and IMO best way to predatorproof a tractor is to shut the birds in the (predatorproof) house part of it at night.

Also as Steve says you can have panels of welded wire mesh -- doesn't have to be hardwarecloth, 1x1 mesh is good and even 2x4" mesh will really do about 95% of what you want it to do -- horizontally on the ground around the tractor. I would suggest at LEAST 1 foot out from the tractor walls, 2' would be better if you're really worried. You can make the panels so they hinge up to make moving the tractor easier, then weight or tentpeg them down once it's got where it's going.

Having the tractor in a fairly low predator situation to begin with will also help, if you can -- e.g. inside a fenced yard, or near a (well trained, ahem) dog or livestock, or just plain near the house as opposed to a thousand feet away.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[wenderful]

Thank you everyone! We have lots to learn about keeping chickens but I'm so excited. I've been dreaming about chicken coops the last 2 nights.

This looks like the BEST place to get advice and support.

 

[AnnesChicks]

Visit my page, we have just the set up you are describing! And cost wise we are a little over $100 dollars because we already had a dog run bought secondhand about 10 years ago, some of our building material was repurposed and even used fencing. I concur with watching craiglist for cheap or even free materials. We are really enjoying our venture into chickens!