My 20 year old daughter bought her mom 4 chicks for Mother's Day. I told her in advance that the chickens needed to be "good looking chickens" (her mother's words). So, together they got two Blue Cochins (2.5 weeks today) and two Dominiques (4 weeks today).
Another part of her Mother's day gift, one of our sons, daughter and I cleared out the kid's playhouse and put wire over the windows. We still need window doors to cover the windows and a new big person door. Also it still needs to be setup inside (dimensions 4' wide x 7' long x 6' tall). So far, nothing has been added to the interior except the pine shavings on the floor. Chickens are spending their days out in the coop and their nights in two large pet carriers in the boy's bathroom which is nice and warm.
Final part of Mother's day gift is a new red and white paint job on the coop.
Nesting boxes will be over near the big door and the roosts will be along the back wall on the opposite side. I still need to add ventilation (low and high), roof insulation and a chicken door.
Can someone inform me about critter proofing the chicken run? How deep to dig the perimeter and the strongest materials? I have hungry raccoons, skunks, dogs, cats, bobcats, pigs, coyotes, hawks, owls, etc. in my neighborhood. Plus, I need to sleep well at night knowing my chickens are safe inside their hen house.
Thanks in advance,
Hugh
Pic #1: Cochin sisters, #2 Dominique sisters, #3 Coop (old playhouse)
Another part of her Mother's day gift, one of our sons, daughter and I cleared out the kid's playhouse and put wire over the windows. We still need window doors to cover the windows and a new big person door. Also it still needs to be setup inside (dimensions 4' wide x 7' long x 6' tall). So far, nothing has been added to the interior except the pine shavings on the floor. Chickens are spending their days out in the coop and their nights in two large pet carriers in the boy's bathroom which is nice and warm.
Final part of Mother's day gift is a new red and white paint job on the coop.
Nesting boxes will be over near the big door and the roosts will be along the back wall on the opposite side. I still need to add ventilation (low and high), roof insulation and a chicken door.
Can someone inform me about critter proofing the chicken run? How deep to dig the perimeter and the strongest materials? I have hungry raccoons, skunks, dogs, cats, bobcats, pigs, coyotes, hawks, owls, etc. in my neighborhood. Plus, I need to sleep well at night knowing my chickens are safe inside their hen house.
Thanks in advance,
Hugh
Pic #1: Cochin sisters, #2 Dominique sisters, #3 Coop (old playhouse)
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