My coop got delivered today!

[Huntmaster]

We will put some linoleum down over the wire and then pack the dirt/bedding!

If it gets wet how will your dirt drain with linoleum? I would think it would turn into a wet mess with no drainage. I would remove chicken wire they do dig deep just asking for trouble leaving it in. Hardware cloth apron is much better and safer option as others have stated. Good links for apron examples below.

Interesting.
Might need to lower the nests tho, so they won't roost(and poop) in them.

Might also want to reconsider the chicken wire on the ground,
it won't stop rodents and could damage the chickens feet.
Aprons are better deterrants.
Good examples of anti-dig apron installation.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wire-around-coop.1110498/#post-17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

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View attachment 3018587

 

[Carlyb22]

If it gets wet how will your dirt drain with linoleum? I would think it would turn into a wet mess with no drainage. I would remove chicken wire they do dig deep just asking for trouble leaving it in. Hardware cloth apron is much better and safer option as others have stated. Good links for apron examples below.

Dang I really wish I was told sooner. Someone else told me to do this, and now that the coop is sat on top of it I don’t know how I’d get the chicken wire out from underneath it. I had it delivered and they had a trailer to move it and then a hand truck. I don’t have anything like that

 

[rosemarythyme]

I don’t know how I’d get the chicken wire out from underneath it.

Hmm, I'd try manually cutting it out (chicken wire should cut fairly easily), and then maybe put something around the inside perimeter to cover up any pointy bits that are left. A layer of bricks, pavers, large branches... anything heavy enough that the chickens won't budge it once it's in place. Then add a hardware cloth apron around the exterior perimeter of the coop to keep pests out.

Also I agree about lowering the nests, though that'll be more work than removing the wire. The nests being as high as the roosts means a greater likelihood of them sleeping in the nests.

 

[mowin]

We will put some linoleum down over the wire and then pack the dirt/bedding!

Why not just remove it? It's not going to keep rodents or larger predators out, even if buried or with linoleum on top. A anti did apron outside the coop will be effective and easy to do.

Lift one side of the coop and prop it up with a block of wood. Then use tin snips to cut the chicken wire. Repeat for the other 3 sides.

 

[Carlyb22]

Why not just remove it? It's not going to keep rodents or larger predators out, even if buried or with linoleum on top. A anti did apron outside the coop will be effective and easy to do.

Lift one side of the coop and prop it up with a block of wood. Then use tin snips to cut the chicken wire. Repeat for the other 3 sides.

I don’t have anything to lift the coop with. Me and my sister will try this weekend but the delivery guys could hardly lift it and they had a hand truck. It’s heavy. We’re going to try and remove it and if we can’t move the coop we will cut it out from the inside like the other comment said.

 

[mowin]

I don’t have anything to lift the coop with. Me and my sister will try this weekend but the delivery guys could hardly lift it and they had a hand truck. It’s heavy. We’re going to try and remove it and if we can’t move the coop we will cut it out from the inside like the other comment said.

Leverage is your friend. 4' pry bar with a block of wood under it placed about a foot from the coop. Push down on the bar and you'll lift a side up easily.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

I'd go tire jack: boost up the coop one side at a time and pull/cut the wire out. Your birdies are going to want to dig deep into the dirt so they can dustbathe in there. They love that.

Since you're not moving this coop around, an apron will work great and let you not have to keep up with perpetually adding dirt on top of the wire, or refilling tubs of dirt for dustbathing.

That's a really cool coop. I wish we were further south so we could have something like that. Welcome to the world of chicken coops, tho: no matter how much you pay for one, you always end up tweaking it. Sometimes it's a total PITA to make changes, but keeping the flock happy is so satisfying.

Oh, and don't get talked into more chickens after your 4 arrive unless you're ready to add another coop! You'll love them so much you'll want alllll the chickens, but more than 4 would 100% require another coop. Space is everything when it comes to keeping chickens healthy and you sane.

 

[Carlyb22]

I'd go tire jack: boost up the coop one side at a time and pull/cut the wire out. Your birdies are going to want to dig deep into the dirt so they can dustbathe in there. They love that.

Since you're not moving this coop around, an apron will work great and let you not have to keep up with perpetually adding dirt on top of the wire, or refilling tubs of dirt for dustbathing.

That's a really cool coop. I wish we were further south so we could have something like that. Welcome to the world of chicken coops, tho: no matter how much you pay for one, you always end up tweaking it. Sometimes it's a total PITA to make changes, but keeping the flock happy is so satisfying.

Oh, and don't get talked into more chickens after your 4 arrive unless you're ready to add another coop! You'll love them so much you'll want alllll the chickens, but more than 4 would 100% require another coop. Space is everything when it comes to keeping chickens healthy and you sane.

Yeah we purposefully got this size coop so we’re limited to our 4 because we would have too many if it was possible This is the only spot in our yard that’s 30ft away from our house and both neighbors so we can only have one coop per the city’s guidelines!

We’re going to mess with it this weekend. We’re probably removing one of the rows of nest boxes since we really don’t need 6 for 4 chickens, and we would prefer the open space, so we will go ahead and lower the other one at the same time.

 

[3KillerBs]

LOVE the airy, well-ventilated design.

However, you *might* want to add vents at the very peak of the roof if you find it gets hot in there.

You also *might* end up needing to put up one solid wall on the windward side if blowing rain is a problem in the winter (a tarp will work, see here).

Might need to lower the nests tho, so they won't roost(and poop) in them.

Might also want to reconsider the chicken wire on the ground,
it won't stop rodents and could damage the chickens feet.
Aprons are better deterrants.

I agree with both these points. My nests are about 10" lower than my roosts and I've still got some stubborn nest-sleepers. (I positioned both nests and roosts with my arthritis in mind so it's a tradeoff).

We will put some linoleum down over the wire and then pack the dirt/bedding!

I don’t know how I’d get the chicken wire out from underneath it.

Lift one side of the coop and prop it up with a block of wood. Then use tin snips to cut the chicken wire. Repeat for the other 3 sides.

You've gotten good advice here.

If you need to get just a little bit of lift to get a lever under one side, stand in the door and use the power of your legs to lift it slightly so that someone can quickly shove a block or a rock under it.

 

[Genene]

What if you just tack it down with ground staples so their feet won’t catch & then cover it with wood chips.