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NursPhyl

NursPhyl

In the Brooder
Joined
May 30, 2020
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Location
Hampton, GA
Hello,
I am new to raising chickens. I think I over did it. I got 12 chickens pullets. I got a house and enclosure for them . I just have to cover the top and secure the bottom to keep out foxes and dogs. How am I doing so far? Any suggestions for improvements?
95317420-3819-4CD9-AA9D-859D9CA84FC6.jpeg
BA659B45-BA9B-4A03-BD2C-E27083447ACA.jpeg
 
DobieLover said:
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
The coop doesn't look large enough for 12 birds. They need about 4 sq ft per bird in the coop and 15 in the run.
Click to expand...
Ok I will do new pic, I did double the size of the run, the coop was a child’s play house which I added perches to, thanks for the suggestions. Do you think I need more space?
64C5361E-4FD5-4FB3-AC34-6908AC955200.jpeg
 
Welcome to BYC! It's possible you may have over-filled your housing. Where do you live and what're the dimensions of your very attractive little coop?

Cinderblocks will work. Another option:

  1. Skirt the bottom edge of the chain-link with hardware cloth all around on the outside. It should be folded into a 45° angle. Place the upward edge against the fence and lay the horizontal on the ground (on the outside perimeter). I did this and stapled the horizontal part to the ground with landscape staples. Grass will grow up through it and hold it down in time. Chickenwire will disintegrate in this application. Galvanized hardware cloth is the best material for this. People also dig the hardware cloth straight down into the ground. :eek: Sounds tortuous to me--impossible, if you're on rocky ground.
  2. Put two strands of electric fence close around the run: one a couple inches from the ground and the second around ten inches up. For the gate, get a couple of insulated gate handles/hooks (often referred to as "gates")--one for each strand. I use solar, but if you have grid power to the coop, that's a lot cheaper. You do need to keep the grass trimmed under the wires or your fence will lose much or all of its power.
 
Last edited:
CindyinSD said:
Welcome to BYC! It's possible you may have over-filled your housing. Where do you live and what're the dimensions of your very attractive little coop?

Cinderblocks will work. Another option:

  1. Skirt the bottom edge of the chain-link with hardware cloth all around on the outside. It should be folded into a 45° angle. Place the upward edge against the fence and lay the horizontal on the ground (on the outside perimeter). I did this and stapled the horizontal part to the ground with landscape staples. Grass will grow up through it and hold it down in time. Chickenwire will disintegrate in this application. Galvanized hardware cloth is the best material for this. People also dig the hardware cloth straight down into the ground. :eek: Sounds tortuous to me--impossible, if you're on rocky ground.
  2. Put two strands of electric fence close around the run: one a couple inches from the ground and the second around ten inches up. For the gate, get a couple of insulated gate handles/hooks (often referred to as "gates")--one for each strand. I use solar, but if you have grid power to the coop, that's a lot cheaper. You do need to keep the grass trimmed under the wires or your fence will no longer work very well.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I have galvanized chicken wire, to put around the coop, I was waiting because we just doubled the run, will do new pics once we have added the cover and wire.
 
NursPhyl said:
Thanks, I have galvanized chicken wire, to put around the coop, I was waiting because we just doubled the run, will do new pics once we have added the cover and wire.
Click to expand...
I did use galvanized chickenwire in a few places, but it's too thin. It's really only useful in applications intended strictly for containing (not protecting) chickens--such as a brooding area inside a coop or other safe building. It rotted after less than half a year for me, with ground contact. You spend less at the outset, but then you have to remove & replace. Frustrating, to put it mildly. And by then, you're really motivated to get it done because you've grown very fond of your birds.

The thing is, chickenwire plus chain link would work where chickenwire alone would be easily torn by (for example) a raccoon. Unfortunately, chickenwire does not last long touching (let alone lying on or in) the ground.
 

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