New Coop and Covered Run

[TennesseeTruly]

Its lovely but I do agree with the others about the chicken wire. I know from personal experience. I had a chicken tractor that my own dogs got into without much effort and killed my chickens that were in there. I'd hate to see that happen after all your effort.

good luck and I hope your chickens enjoy their new home!

Laurie

 

[peepinator]

Hello again...

Yeah I wouldn't trust the chicken wire by itself either. You can't see it but we have 4 foot heavy field fencing in place all around the coop plus the chicken wire and we have metal posts deeply in the ground that our fencing is attached to. From 4 feet up beyond the field fencing...for the top of the coop....it's just chicken wire. The field fencing continues around a large area that is for our dogs and it contains them well--they've never busted through that. I know they can't get inside the coop with that in place...but I am concerned about what the one person posted about coons putting their hands through and grabbing a chicken and ripping it's head off. Since the field fencing has bigger squares of wire than hardwire...it is still possible for them to do that. The chickens will be locked in tight at night in the coop...so the predators would have to do it during the day....and then they would have to be fearless of two BIG dogs that will tear anything apart that gets in their pen area. The chicken run is part of the dog's big yard...we just fenced off one corner of it so the dogs will be right next to the chickens watching for predators. They've killed skunks and coons that are dumb enough to climb their fence to get in their pen. I do plan on digging down and installing fencing all along the bottom as well. Anyhow...I hope my chickies will love their new home when they're ready to be in it

My two watch dogs! Cuter than hell...but not nice to other animals....very territorial and they tag team on them if they can get at 'em...they're just not nice to other animals that don't belong in their pen...but they love people.


Angel and Apollo

Apollo...looks cute and he's a big ole dufus and so very loveable to us...but coons or skunks or stray cats...they're in TROUBLE!

Angel...Don't let the name and sweet face fool you...she's the instigator....the leader of the two of them...

Have a great day everyone....thanks for all the advice and info

 

[LaurenM23]

What we chose to do was to install the hardware cloth on the inside of the chicken wire on the frame. I'll try to get some photos of this to help explain it. Initially, we were going to just layer the hardware cloth over on the outside.

Issues:

1: By installing on the outside, it would be visibly obvious that there was an added layer. We have gone to great lengths to make this "look good" and put up framing around the outside to finish it off. I didn't want to disassemble the whole deal, as I wasn't sure how fast we could get it all back together and today is such a lovely day for my babies to be out and about...I'd hate to have them "cooped" up! haha

2: Installing on the outside over the other wire, but not enclosed by frame means that an edge will be exposed somewhere. If we are specifically trying to eliminate raccoons as predators (or slow them down a bunch), their little hands have enough dexterity to grasp the wire and pull.

3: If the larger holes are on the inside, I was concerned that a chick could try to pop through a bit, then get a leg or neck caught between the layers, panic, and OUCH!

Instead, by installing on the inside:

1: The chicks are now at least 2 inches away from the outer wire layer. They can't really fit any parts through the hardware cloth, and there is an increased "reach distance" for anything trying to get them. Hopefully, the time it takes to get through to the second layer with the hand tips off the chicks to danger so they can move away or head for the coop.

2: The predator must get through one layer of wire before encountering a second, tougher layer. The hope being that it will be too much trouble or effort once they get there. Also, all edges are able to be tacked up inside, so that nothing can grab and pull...unless the chicks try hanging on it from the ceiling. lol

3: You really can't see anything until you're right up on it, so the look remains as everyone wanted.

When it is cooler in the evenings, we will definitely be locking everyone in. The coop itself is very secure, with hardware cloth inside all openings to keep the chicks in and everyone else out. All doors have strong locks requiring two hands and some effort.

 

[LaurenM23]

@ peepinator - LOVE your Chows! My mom had one when I was first born that was her baby. Unfortunately, to infant me, it looked like a giant teddy bear that was only still when eating! She used to guard me like Secret Service, sleeping under my bassinet to protect me from everyone...including my father! Only my mother was permitted for fast action, everyone else was under suspicion. She would even wait by the car door like a sentry while my mom brought in groceries. I was HER baby! I plan to find her another one eventually.

 

[peepinator]

Thanks LaurenM23!! They are very territorial and loveable! Ours are mixed with akita so my boy is really big! He is a big dufus...such a personality too! I love your idea for installing the hardwire...having it extra distance away from the outer wire...that is a great idea. We have lots of coons, foxes, coyotes, cougar, bear, elk, deer, wild turkeys and every other animal living in the near vicinity of our place. We're in the mountains of Idaho. I love all the wild life. I actually have 4 or 5 raccoons and one fox that come at night and eat my cat food. They have never messed with my cats...as long as there is plenty of food for them all, they're all happy. Occasionally we have a coon or skunk get in our dogs pen and it is usually killed if it goes in there. We just rescued a raccoon from the dogs a couple weeks ago when it got in...in the middle of the night. Makes me upset when they hurt an animal. I don't want them getting at my chickens so I'll have to make sure the run is very secure...but I don't mind that they come and share food with my cats. I feed all of the stray cats around our woods too. I just love all animals

Anyhow...enjoy your chickies and I hope they like their new home. Have a great day!