Newbie! would like some input and advice on my ideas

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! Hardware cloth is definitely the way to go. Chicken wire is only good for keeping chickens in like sumi said. Good luck to you!

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Oh your coop is lovely!

 

[gander007]

Hey everyone! First timeer here, ive been on this site many times now and decided to sign up and try to suck up as much knowledge as i can from the people that have done it.

I purchased 7 Chics from my local tractor supply on March 22nd for the first time ever, me and my fiance purchased our first house last year and thought it would be the right time.

They are currently still in my basement in a wooden crate but are quickly outgrowing it! i have been building a coop out behind my house and have gone a little farther than i should have with it but it should be nice once its finished.FYI i am not a carpenter and really have no prior building skills so work with me!

I work for a manufacturing company so we receive a lot of wooden crates and pallets daily so i decided to utilize that as much as i can. Thoughts? advice for first time hen owner? id love to hear.

here are a few pics:

Pallets are made from good strong wood so your structure should last a good long time and I only say that because I have a house on the property that was built on this property out of pallets in the 1930's and I use it for storage but it is still a strong structure ........

Enjoy your poultry ......

 

[chickie farmer]

Hardware cloth is best (1/2"). Bury it about 8-10 inches in the ground around the coop and run. This will deter them from digging very much. also at least two feet above ground. This will keep your chickens from having parts of them pulled through a fence that a raccoon can get it's paws through. I use a dog chain fence with 1/2" hardware clothe around it. You can use chicken wire over the top to keep the hawks from flying off with them. I would also use the hardware cloth over the window and vent openings. Raccoons are smart, they can even capable of opening coop doors and latches.

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Wow, very pretty coop! Do you hire out??

You have been given some great advice about using hardware cloth. Never use chicken wire an any exterior parts of the coop and run and you will be fine with hardware cloth.

Good luck with the build and welcome to our flock!

 

[drumstick diva]

Very nice coop. Yes, chicken wire is very flimsy and any predator worth his salt, can push his way in or tear the wire enough to bite any body part off. You want hardware cloth securely attached to posts so it can't be torn loose. A top on the run will keep hawks out and if it is a solid cover, provide shade and some protection from rain and snow.