Open Coop

[senilking]

I was just wondering if anyone has ever tried designing a coop that doesn't get closed, but is still predator proof with chickens that are free ranged?

I'm thinking of somehow making a small opening like a chute large enough for chickens to get in, and having the opening about 4 or 5 feet off the ground. The chute would extend out from the wall of the coop a couple feet. I don't think my chickens would have a problem hopping up to it. Then, in a way that the chickens wouldn't be likely to touch, adding some electric fencing around the chute so the only way in is basically jumping into the opening.

Anybody ever tried it, or see the major issues with it? I would still go visit them and at least check on them night and day, but if I got out there a little late in the morning or night, they would have the choice to go how they like. It would also give them a safe place to go during the day from stray dogs and other animals if they'd like.

 

[JDN]

The closest I've heard is an automatic door.

Foxes and Raccoons are especially smart. Foxes are intensely athletic as well, I've seen them jump quite high...

 

[townchicks]

A fox could certainly access a setup like that. Not to mention weasels and rats and probably at least smaller raccoons. Certainly not predator proof at all, IMO.

 

[Nardo]

And cats. Don't forget cats.

 

[townchicks]

Oh, and by he way, my BIL had a 65 lb dog that used the cat door daily every day of his life. We babysat him once and put him in our basement/garage to keep him "out of trouble" while we went to the movies. Came home to the dog sitting on the porch. You know those small rectangular vents under houses? Uh huh.

 

[JDN]

I just built a big run, 10x20, chain link fence, ran hardware cloth underneath. For the 6-7 birds I intend to keep in it, its plenty big that they don't need to get stir crazy, and they range a couple days a week in the yard.

 

[JemimaP]

I saw a post on a website where they had built a tube/chute coming out of the coop that turned 90 degrees a couple times, sort of wrapping around the sides of the coop and it said foxes won’t go round the corners. But I think rats would?