Minnesota!

[NikonD2xer]

I have raccoons just like everyone else. I have not had an issue with them and the coop. I am glad you mentioned it because i do have some welded wire fende i was going to put on the inside of the panels at the bottom.

 

[duluthralphie]

I like that coop.

I am going to try and make something similar to that. I have been toying with a bachelor pad, I think just 2 panels would do what I need for them. I am only talking 4-6 roosters. Attached to a covered run, maybe guinea gulag.

I like the idea of it being light enough to move also. I prefer moving to cleaning coops.





I moved the meatballs outside today. I made them a 4x8 (2 ft tall) "box" with a vent on the south edge for venting. Then a 6x10 tractor, another box 4x4 and a 8x8 pen. They have grass and are happy as can be. They did not like the move itself, but once in the new quarters, they went nuts.

I gave them a mixture of wild bird seed and scratch in the grass, it was like an easter egg hunt for CX's...




Also I have decided on my Tom for next spring, to replace his father. he is a beautiful blue slate with lots of dark blue feathers, has a large body and long legs. He looks like his breast will fill out nicely. So if anyone wants a turkey I know the one I am keeping now. I have a variety of colors and several blue slates and self blues to pick from.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I haven't seen a raccoon for a while where I live. **Knock on Wood** Skunks either. Which is great. Either we have some neighborhood snipers or they don't like the lay of our land and get good whiffs of labrador scent or something...

Sadie continues to walk down to the coop with me and back. on my heels. Leaving chickens be. We let her out potty and I know she goes around the bend to see what they are up to. They cluck and leave that side of the house...and I count all 10 every night so far. IDK. I'm waiting for the "mistake" I guess and praying and hoping it doesn't come. She soaks up the praise though and wants to please us. She chews chews chews. Drives us batty in the house. She's doing well in the out door kennel though...and that is our reprieve when we need a break from telling her no biting, no chewing.

I don't know if I had chicken massacre in my head so badly that I'm so surprised by this pup, or what. But gosh I love labradors.

 

[NikonD2xer]

@duluthralphie I over did my coop. There is no reason you could not make it lighter and or smaller other than a higher risk of something happening during a wind event. You could use 2 x 6 or even 2 x 4 for the base and single board where i doubled everything up, especially if you had the back at least partly open to allow wind to escape or you anchor it down somehow.

I know mine has withstood 60 mph winds on the open side and didn't budge.

 

[duluthralphie]

I think anchoring it is a good idea.....


And I now have a new area to release all the live trapped skunks and coons I get........

 

[lalaland]

I've considered a hoop house....would be nice to have for the summer and to give the run a chance to recover from use. U of M has a small farms website, with poultry info. They have directions for a hoop house, not as nice as nikon's I think, but if you like lists here it is:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/food/s...poultry/build-your-own-poultry-hut/index.html I don't like the siding used...think tarp is better. maybe wouldn't last as long...


also, kentucky has something a little more interesting: http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ASC/ASC189/ASC189.pdf


nikondxr's coop looks more sturdy!


and it was really red this morning, wasn't it? Doing chicken chores I felt like there were red spotlights lighting everything up.

 

[Cluckies]

Is she a gold comet? she looks like my Fi.

 

[scandiafowl]

I think anchoring it is a good idea.....


And I now have a new area to release all the live trapped skunks and coons I get........

Do you really release them?

 

[scandiafowl]

Is she a gold comet?  she looks like my Fi. 

She also looks like Gilda and Goldie, my two Red Links.

 

[scandiafowl]

Scandal!
As the Chicken Coop turns
All My Chicks
Guiding Chickens
General Chickens




Goldie and Hermes have been obseved sneaking off to the barn together.

I told Hermes if he was going to mess with Goldie he'd better be ready to support a family.

He can't even produce a decent crow!