need help in designing a bear proof chicken coop in woods

[iplanners]

I have a place in the middle of the woods and just cleared an area for vegetable garden that will have a wire large fence around it along with with an electric fence. On one side of the garden I would like to build a chicken coop. The problem is that we do have foxes, fishers and also black bear at times so I need to build it really strong building. I will be sawing a lot of oak boards (with saw mill) and intend to make it with that. I guess I would like to have 4 to 6 chickens. Really need help on doing this and have a good design.

Thanks much
Jerry

 

[lesgo54]

make sure u use the electric fence. bury hardware cloth around perimiter of pen and coop

 

[loveourbirds]

a bear is pretty much going to go where it wants, wire and hardware cloth are not going to stop it. an electric wire around the coop will discourage most wild animals. as will a dog nearby. i looked up an article that says that bears hate the smell of capsaicin, im not sure if this is true but it couldn't hurt. capsaicin is found in hot peppers, plant some around the perimeter of your garden, along with the perimeter of your coop. it will help detour deer too.

using thick straight grained oak and hickory might help, i would secure it to the ground so the bear cant roll it over. the chickens should run from the bear, so maybe you could make an area that the bear couldn't reach them, and couldn't destroy?

don't waste your time with poultry netting, i would probably go with chain link fence with 1x1 welded wire attached to it to keep smaller predators out.

im not a bear expert, but i would also avoid feeding your chickens fish or anything that might draw the bear in.