My dad says there is no use they will be dead in a couple weeks.

[lovesduckies]

Quote:
lol,mine were supposed to be started in here, but now i have a duck laying eggs in here. i don't mind it at all i love having them in here, but my dad is really lazy and was supposed to help build a pen and that never happened because it requires getting off the couch. and we just don't have the money for it now. he's a pocket pincher though, we'll say he has no money, but he really does,he just doesn't wana get up off the couch.

YAY FOR ENCOURAGING DADDIES!

 

[onthespot]

get a hot wire just in case, before you put anything in your coop. That way, anything that snoops never gets a taste. The first experience will be getting zapped, hopefully no birds will have to be the sacrificial lamb to your learning curve.

 

[chicmom]

Hello! I live out in the country, and I lock my chickens securely inside the coop at night. During the day, I haven't seen any predators around--they usually wait until after dark.

I've only ever lost one chicken to a hawk. I still let them free range when it's light out because they just love it, and I believe their quality of life is important. Call me cooky, but I want my chickens to be happy, and it's worth the risk to let them free range.

I think things will be fine for you. We've got all those predators too.

Good Luck, and don't be discouraged by negativity!

Sharon

 

[CityChook]

One of the cheapest and most successful predator proofing tactics that I've used is simply locking the girls up at night. My coop construction is solid and they are safe. There will always be predators during the day, but night time is when the really bad guys come out and play. Make their job hard.

If you are questioning the strength of your coop and/or run, spend some time on this forum and the coop design and learn all that you can.