Newbie coop/ run. Ready for my hens!

[Smangerer]

I started with a stake in the ground and a roll of chicken wire. I knew which pre-manufactured coop I wanted and had it on back order so I started making the enclosure with no plan for a gate or roof. I figured it out as I went and the finished product is actually very close to my plan I had in my head and probably better.

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]I used chicken wire for the first 4 feet, then two feet of rabbit fence (2x4 inch rectangular). For the roof I got 5 foot rabbit fence draped over with a 9' pvc pipe to attach it to. The gate was totally a custom job. My fear was that I would have a board stapled to wire that I would fold back to get in but thanks to my patient wife and baby i was able to wander the isles long enough to get the light bulb effect. To be fair my wife had the idea first and pointed me to the garden section where we found a lattice that was the perfect size. I sheared off one of the stakes and drove a pipe in the ground for the other one to act as a hinge. Attached it to the post and to latch it I had to try several things but ended up with a hook latch at the top, a foot long sliding bolt for the ground and an adjustable sliding padlock for the middle. With out all three I felt a raccoon could push the gate open enough to possibly get in. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]I hadn't really thought much about raccoons until after I thought I was mostly done. I started reading this site after all of this so fortunately I caught some mistakes early. One was the chicken wire and the other was the use of staples which should have been obvious since I pulled a few when twisting wire together. To amend I used the extra 5 foot rabbit fence I had from the roof over the chicken wire and reenforced the staples with screws and washers.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]I then lined the base of the coop with river stones to deter diggers (dog or raccoon). If they start to dig the stones will fill the hole. In my pic, the stones are on the outside of the exposed side and I plan one moving most to the inside of the wire so the diggers cant move the rocks. I got this tip from a local chicken guru.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]I will get my hens next week from my families farm. I would like chicks but we have a baby and I cant see 3 more being realistic. I plan on slowly introducing them to my dog in the hopes that they can roam the yard every day without my supervision. We have two cats which the dog loves so I think she will be okay once she knows they are mine, then hers.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]The gate is on the back side of it so you cant see it in this photo but If you want to see more detail I can add more photos... Let me know what you think?[/FONT]

 

[jorey]

I like it. I've always freeranged but a fox has been around tge last two months so I am building a pen. Definately a learning process. Id like to see the gate if you wouldn't mind I'm stumped on how to attach mine. Thanks so much.

 

[Smangerer]

Its attached to the wire itself and also tied to the post with zip ties and wire. I used zip ties to initially hold everything together then reenforced with copper wire and the fencing. I should be getting my birds tomorrow.

 

[Smangerer]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]I feel the need to update this as I have had my first predator attack much too soon. Everything I did was okay but the exposed nest box fell victim. I knew it needed reinforcement but I didn't know how bad. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]Not a week after getting our first chicks which we had already named... the one day i am gone... I come home to dead birds. I was able to determine exactly what happened; a dog had penetrated a temporary fence on my yard and ripped the lid of the nest box clear off and proceded to terrorize and kill my birds. The fence had done a perfect job at keeping my dog in, but failed when it came to keeping a determined dog out. Had my dog known what was going on it would have been a different ending but she was distracted by the doorbell when the owner came to my door ( I have security cameras). [/FONT]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]I had figured i needed to replace the hinges and latches but it turns out I needed to add some meat to the structure itself. On those pre manufactured coops, the hinge for the nest box lid is screwed into a board which is stapled to the coop. You cant tell until its ripped off with ease. Needless to say I have repaired the coop with heavy reinforcements as well as the fence.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]I now have three Gold Laced Wyandottes which are three months old. I am learning to love them but I cant help but feel bitter that I have replacement birds. I dont plan on confronting the neighbor seeing as I didn't have an adequate fence either but if there is another incident at my house or anyone else's nearby I will go all in.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif]I will post updated picks.[/FONT]

 

[jorey]

Im so sorry about your losses. People say their just chickens but they seem to worm their way into our hearts. Thank you for pics of the gate. I think I am going to bungee cord mine all down one side to attach it.

 

[Hokum Coco]

If you decide to keep any kind of animal it inevitably involves heartache. Sometimes it is preventable other time not.

Raccoons are closely related to bears and live the same live style. Pound for pound they are one of the meanest, cleverest,and strongest predators out there. Very few dogs will tackle a full sized raccoon regardless of breed.

Once your coop is bullet proof you should alleviate a lot of your predator problems (most predators are nocturnal).

Domestic dogs are just as deadly and can spring out of no where when you least expect it. Chicken wire to a good sized dog is like a drive through window to a human.

 

[skitzkle]

So sorry for your loss

I am always nervous about mine getting attacked, but the only animal that has approached the run are squirels and they just want the feed! I did have a snake try and get into the brooder cage & that was terrifying but the chicks went crazy and we were able to kill it before it got to them. I put latches with hinge pins on my nesting boxes but they are also inside the run so a dog can't get them. I used chain link fence for the run.

 

[Smangerer]

I added the metal corners to deter the chewing that started it all. I also added a 2x4 to the inside where the old hinges screwed into the coop. I also added the metal strips on the top just out of paranoia. They pin down the wire for additional security. Im sure I will make more tweaks but seeing as that dog cant get in at all now it will do for now.