My custom coop arrived and it was wrong :(

[Susan-B]

This is, admittedly, not proof against aerial predators and it isn't chick-tight,* but it's the easiest, most spacious run you can get.

https://www.premier1supplies.com/c/poultry-supplies/electric-netting-kits

I have 100" of the 48" netting with the solar charger. Both plug-in and solar chargers have their downsides and I'd be happy to give an honest evaluation of my solar charger if you're interested.

*I used short posts and cheap plastic netting inside the electric net to create a chick-tight space.

can fox jump this? We have a fox family in the back yard (and a roaming coyote)

 

[3KillerBs]

can fox jump this? We have a fox family in the back yard (and a roaming coyote)

I don't know how high a fox can jump or if it would even attempt to jump something that gave it an electric shock.

Many people who have known predator issues bait their electric fence with bacon to ensure that the predators get a hard shock to the mouth that teaches them to never attempt to violate the fence again.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have personally seen fox clear a 6' fence like it was nothing.

 

[3KillerBs]

I have personally seen fox clear a 6' fence like it was nothing.

Electric?

Jumping completely clear over or climbing up and over?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Electric?

Jumping completely clear over or climbing up and over?

It was a clean jump from a standstill... no running start. The fence was chain link and that bugger had room to spare.

No electric involved.

 

[Susan-B]

I don't know how high a fox can jump or if it would even attempt to jump something that gave it an electric shock.

Many people who have known predator issues bait their electric fence with bacon to ensure that the predators get a hard shock to the mouth that teaches them to never attempt to violate the fence again.

I know they can jump onto a 6 ft fence, saw a picture of one sitting on top of one near me

 

[3KillerBs]

I know they can jump onto a 6 ft fence, saw a picture of one sitting on top of one near me

I know that foxes climb wonderfully-well. It was the ability to clear an obstacle in a clean jump that I didn't know.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I know that foxes climb wonderfully-well. It was the ability to clear an obstacle in a clean jump that I didn't know.

I was definitely surprised by it.

Of course it was during a 3 day coop redo where all birds had to stay in their run while we tore down the 8x8 coop and put up the 8x14.
It definitely put some need for speed into that build.

 

[Peggy O]

It was returned. Im not getting another custom one sadly

I got an incredible deal on one of those cheapo put it together yourself kits and then we went to Home Depot and got wood and made an addition, which is basically a box on stilts with a large door and 2x 2 roosts. It's been working great for 7 years and I live in New York, and gets freaking cold here, frost heaving etc. Ee buried wire under the chicken coop which was set up on a frame of 2x4s. The back addition was made out of cheap fencing posts...not posts, the flat ones...at Home Depot the cheapest wood they had, and I painted it with some Barn stain. Added vinyl flooring leftovers from our kitchen some white whatever kind of paint that I put on the inside, just to make it easier to clean. You can slap together something yourself that'll be perfectly functional and won't cost an arm and a leg if you have basic tools and a power saw or strong arms. I have almost no knowledge of construction and we made a really nice chicken coop and a huge run (welded wire walls for run, walk in human sz door, and wire over the top with a black mesh shade tarp *roof*, no experience, way cheaper than the custom (amish) ones sold around here.

 

[Susan-B]

I got an incredible deal on one of those cheapo put it together yourself kits and then we went to Home Depot and got wood and made an addition, which is basically a box on stilts with a large door and 2x 2 roosts. It's been working great for 7 years and I live in New York, and gets freaking cold here, frost heaving etc. Ee buried wire under the chicken coop which was set up on a frame of 2x4s. The back addition was made out of cheap fencing posts...not posts, the flat ones...at Home Depot the cheapest wood they had, and I painted it with some Barn stain. Added vinyl flooring leftovers from our kitchen some white whatever kind of paint that I put on the inside, just to make it easier to clean. You can slap together something yourself that'll be perfectly functional and won't cost an arm and a leg if you have basic tools and a power saw or strong arms. I have almost no knowledge of construction and we made a really nice chicken coop and a huge run (welded wire walls for run, walk in human sz door, and wire over the top with a black mesh shade tarp *roof*, no experience, way cheaper than the custom (amish) ones sold around here.

I have a hammer, a screw driver and a problem with my right (dominant) hand. So I’m just buying a coop LOL. Going to try and get my boyfriend to put together a run quickly and then I can slowly work at improving it. Just need to to be predator proof