- May 9, 2012
- 14
- 0
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Hi folks I'm new here and new to chickens in general. My husband was raised on the farm but hasn't had chickens for a long time. He does things the way his grandfather did them and sometimes it seems harder or not safe enough.
We are using his grandfathers old walk in coop for our 10 - 5 week old chicks. Its basically about 8 feet tall and it's a 6x6 open room with a 4x4 roosting room added on to the side and the coop is in a HUGE fenced pen. The coop was built back in the 60s and is still very strong but has quite a few holes and gaps. It also has a panel that's about 4 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide that's open to the outside that's just covered in cattle fencing.
We put the chicks in last night and went to check on them after a couple of hours and they got out somehow. We thought we figured out where and barricaded it but this morning they were out again this morning. Still in the pen but out of the coop. This evening we are going to use the rest of our chicken wire to finish patching up any more holes from inside.
So here's what I need help with: Do I need to have a ramp? Right now there is only the people door and for ventilation just the panel of cattle fencing. Also do I need to cover the cattle fencing with something else like window screen so snakes or weasels can't get in? My husband said that it worked for his grandfather so it'll work like it is for us but it seems like snakes and weasels can still get in.
I hope I described that well enough. If not I can take and post pictures. Thanks!
We are using his grandfathers old walk in coop for our 10 - 5 week old chicks. Its basically about 8 feet tall and it's a 6x6 open room with a 4x4 roosting room added on to the side and the coop is in a HUGE fenced pen. The coop was built back in the 60s and is still very strong but has quite a few holes and gaps. It also has a panel that's about 4 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide that's open to the outside that's just covered in cattle fencing.
We put the chicks in last night and went to check on them after a couple of hours and they got out somehow. We thought we figured out where and barricaded it but this morning they were out again this morning. Still in the pen but out of the coop. This evening we are going to use the rest of our chicken wire to finish patching up any more holes from inside.
So here's what I need help with: Do I need to have a ramp? Right now there is only the people door and for ventilation just the panel of cattle fencing. Also do I need to cover the cattle fencing with something else like window screen so snakes or weasels can't get in? My husband said that it worked for his grandfather so it'll work like it is for us but it seems like snakes and weasels can still get in.
I hope I described that well enough. If not I can take and post pictures. Thanks!
