Need advice on how to enclose the roost area, please :-)

[toad37]

Hi All,

This is the coop I made but I know I need to make an area where they can sleep in darkness and safety.
Any tips would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[mowin]

Hi All,

This is the coop I made but I know I need to make an area where they can sleep in darkness and safety.
Any tips would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

Hard to tell, but is there a roof on the structure?

Where do you live, it helps everyone in giving advice on what you may need, as that will vary from region to region.

 

[toad37]

Hi- No roof just a plastic cover for now. I'm using one of those Harbor Freight 10x20 stand alone carports as the frame. I live in Covington Wa.

 

[aart]

I'm using one of those Harbor Freight 10x20 stand alone carports as the frame.

A pic from farther back, showing the whole structure, would help.

I live in Covington Wa.

Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[mowin]

What predators do you have in your area? Poultry netting is easily breached by predators. You're going to need a secure coop and run at some point.

 

[toad37]

Thanks for the replies. Here is pic from further back... for now it's just enclosed on the right side half. As far as predators, I think we have raccoons as the biggest, other than hawks.

I am putting stronger gauge wire fence around the bottom 4ft for now after seeing your comment aart. Thanks!

 

[OlympicChick]

I'm in WA also, west of you. I'm sure you have raccoons and possums both. Try to put hardware cloth (1/4" or 1/2") as an apron along the perimeter too.

 

[aart]

Thanks for the replies. Here is pic from further back... for now it's just enclosed on the right side half. As far as predators, I think we have raccoons as the biggest, other than hawks.

I am putting stronger gauge wire fence around the bottom 4ft for now after seeing your comment aart. Thanks!

4 ft will only slow them down, raccoons are excellent climbers.
Sorry to say your enclosure is very un-secure.
Seems easy to pop up one of those canopies, but the roof is one of the weakest parts.
It won't shed rain away from the walls and preds could get under the fabric and it may actually hold water in the sags,
The tubular framing is probably not strong enough nor spaced properly to add a real roof.
I'd think about a whole new coop, maybe use the canopy as a run.

 

[toad37]

4 ft will only slow them down, raccoons are excellent climbers.
Sorry to say your enclosure is very un-secure.
Seems easy to pop up one of those canopies, but the roof is one of the weakest parts.
It won't shed rain away from the walls and preds could get under the fabric and it may actually hold water in the sags,
The tubular framing is probably not strong enough nor spaced properly to add a real roof.
I'd think about a whole new coop, maybe use the canopy as a run.

Any suggestions on a new coop that won't take a bunch of space? I wasn't planning on giving up more garden space for now.

 

[aart]

Any suggestions on a new coop that won't take a bunch of space? I wasn't planning on giving up more garden space for now.

How many birds do you have?
Oh, I see you are an 'unintended' chicken keeper, having 'adopted' some strays.
Might want to think about if you really want them before going to the expense of building a secure coop.