New Hampshire!

[DwayneNLiz]

Hi I am from unity am new to chickens and trying to set up a safe coop. I still have a few weeks till the chicks will be ready to go outside for first time. Have a coop i bought at tractor supply and am planning a covered pen for protection to go around the whole coop. Any input would be appreciated. My wife is on this forum too Kathycltnh we are both excited to have chickens and don't want anything to happen to them.

Welcome!!!

make sure you do a HWC skirt

you bury it so digging animals cant ge tin (like weasels)

REMEMBER any quarter sized hole must be covered!! use 1/4" HWC

i had a bear rip the side of my barn off, so i also ran electric fence around it

 

[davef03743]

Welcome!!!

make sure you do a HWC skirt 
Thanks for info I saw in the picture you have I think your coop on cinder blocks should I do that or will I be alright just burying the mesh was planning going down about a foot with that around the coop and also going down with the fencing some maybe not a foot around the run I am going to build thx Dave

you bury it so digging animals cant ge tin (like weasels)

REMEMBER any quarter sized hole must be covered!! use 1/4" HWC

i had a bear rip the side of my barn off, so i also ran electric fence around it

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Thanks for info I saw in the picture you have I think your coop on cinder blocks should I do that or will I be alright just burying the mesh was planning going down about a foot with that around the coop and also going down with the fencing some maybe not a foot around the run I am going to build thx Dave

you dont have to use cinder blocks, the cinder blocks keep the wood from rotting out as quickly, and it doesnt have to be a foot down, a few inches will do the trick

Good Luck!!

 

[muncrunch]

Questions from a native New Englander (RI)...I am in the midst of building a 12 x 8 fully enclosed coop/run. Due to hawks in our backyard, the chickens will not be let out unless I am out there to supervise. I also wrapped the entire coop and run, including underneath, with hardware cloth. Given that it is fullly secure, do I need a coop door to reduce drafts in the winter? Also, do I need a cool light or a coop heater for the New England winters? Thanks for the advice.

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Questions from a native New Englander (RI)...I am in the midst of building a 12 x 8 fully enclosed coop/run. Due to hawks in our backyard, the chickens will not be let out unless I am out there to supervise. I also wrapped the entire coop and run, including underneath, with hardware cloth. Given that it is fullly secure, do I need a coop door to reduce drafts in the winter? Also, do I need a cool light or a coop heater for the New England winters? Thanks for the advice.

i do not heat my coop at all, you want a lot of ventilation to keep moisture from building up therefore preventing frostbite
if you hop on the maine thread (its way more active than this one) there are a lot of helpful people that can give you some ideas

 

[muncrunch]

Thank you!

 

[DwayneNLiz]

Thank you!

you're welcome!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1370/maine/

 

[tinakevin]

I also don't heat my coop. It's best to have them acclimate to the temp. This way if u ever lose power they will not die from the sudden cold. also I would def have a door you can close to the coop because in the winter u don't want the drafts or wind coming thru. New England winters can b harsh sometimes. Good luck

 

[FarmerBon]

I'm in Lebanon. Love my girls x6, 4 weeks old. I have a Cuckoo Maran, Black Sexlink, Buff Orpington, Golden laced Wyandotte, Speckled Sussix and Ameraucana. What kinds of breeds do you have?

 

[DwayneNLiz]

I'm in Lebanon. Love my girls x6, 4 weeks old. I have a Cuckoo Maran, Black Sexlink, Buff Orpington, Golden laced Wyandotte, Speckled Sussix and Ameraucana. What kinds of breeds do you have?

Welcome to BYC!!!
i have mutts, but working on getting cream crested legbars, frosted legbars and Marans