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Um I think the bigegest we can fit on it is a 8x10 but I am not sure and if he would let us we would just take his role back and he wouldn't have to worry about driving anywhere and then we can save some money instead of paying him for gas
 
chxmama said:
@dheltzel - have you seen fox or evidence of them bothering your hoop tractors? Have you had any predator casualties in the tractors? Dh finished up our hoop tractor and the girls spent their first night in the hoop rather than closed into their coop. Couldn't believe my eyes to see a fox on top of the tractor about 9 AM this morning in broad daylight!
th.gif
We see fox moving through regularly and have seen scat around the permanent, wooden coops and runs so are aware, but it was unnerving to see him bold as day on top of the tractor.

Our design is very similar to your build model, but w/o the hardware cloth around the bottom 14" b/c our girls roost reliably.
So basically cattle panels wrapped in welded wire. Welded wire on each end. Tarp covers a little over half of the tractor. We did not put welded wire on the cattle panels under the tarp. Can fox, coon, etc. tear through tarping? We did put an apron of folded chicken wire (so double layer) extending about 1' out all the way around the tractor (attached to the base frame) to prevent digging.

Does this sound fox proof or do we need to beef it up? I can take pics if you think it would help. I'm nervous to let the girls in there tonight. They are at POL and it would be a shame to lose any after all this growing up work!

I know several of you local to me have/had fox problems so very interested to hear how you're taking care to keep them away from your girls.

ETA: I'm chicken . . . brought the girls into their enclosed run and will lock them in the coop tonight while we consider whether the tractor is fox proof enough.
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For my two cents, if you don't know that its fox proof, it probably isn't....they are pretty hard to get rid of after they get dialed in on your flock...I'd suggest keeping a loaded shotgun handy....
 
AnneInTheBurbs said:
Thanks Dennis! I'm more interesting in a large autosexing dual purpose breed for the future, which is why I like the Bielefelders. I am more concerned with the size of the birds and the eggs, rather than the quantity of eggs. I have read that they are a more calm breed too, which is also desirable. I'm also going to want some more bantam Cochins if you have still have them. Everyone loves my bantam Cochin the best, as far as appearance. What would you say is the size difference on the Wellbars vs. the Bieles?

Hopefully it will only be a couple months until we have a new home. A house of similar size sold around the corner in 6 days, so fingers crossed.
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I will try to keep some Biels around for a while, since there is demand and they are new and not well distributed yet. Let me know when you have a broody hen and room to raise the Biels.
I am not producing any more bantam cochins from my birds, but I can get eggs from my cousin and hatch some for you when you are ready. I say someone on CL advertising Lavender Cochin bantam chicks. If I did not already have too many birds, I would get some of them.
 
chxmama said:
@dheltzel - have you seen fox or evidence of them bothering your hoop tractors? Have you had any predator casualties in the tractors? Dh finished up our hoop tractor and the girls spent their first night in the hoop rather than closed into their coop. Couldn't believe my eyes to see a fox on top of the tractor about 9 AM this morning in broad daylight!
th.gif
We see fox moving through regularly and have seen scat around the permanent, wooden coops and runs so are aware, but it was unnerving to see him bold as day on top of the tractor.

Our design is very similar to your build model, but w/o the hardware cloth around the bottom 14" b/c our girls roost reliably.
So basically cattle panels wrapped in welded wire. Welded wire on each end. Tarp covers a little over half of the tractor. We did not put welded wire on the cattle panels under the tarp. Can fox, coon, etc. tear through tarping? We did put an apron of folded chicken wire (so double layer) extending about 1' out all the way around the tractor (attached to the base frame) to prevent digging.

Does this sound fox proof or do we need to beef it up? I can take pics if you think it would help. I'm nervous to let the girls in there tonight. They are at POL and it would be a shame to lose any after all this growing up work!

I know several of you local to me have/had fox problems so very interested to hear how you're taking care to keep them away from your girls.

ETA: I'm chicken . . . brought the girls into their enclosed run and will lock them in the coop tonight while we consider whether the tractor is fox proof enough.
Click to expand...
I think it would be hard for a fox to rip through a tarp, especially on the top of the coop. I usually cover the enter curved area with a tarp and attach it at all the grommets with lengths of electrical wire (easy to bend and won't rust and break). If there are open cattle panel holes, even on the top, you might want to cover them with wire or another tarp.

I can't believe a fox would be on top of the coop, that seems like what a coon or hawk would do. I worry about foxes nosing or digging under the perimeter, not them climbing on top.

Maybe you should consider an electric fence around the area. If you put the hot wire a few inches off the ground, on supports that extend it a few inches out from the structure, any fox or coon will touch it as they get close to the coop. If you got a solar or batter powered unit, the hookup would be easy, just ground it to the apron wire and the wire of the cattle panels. If they start to climb over the energized wire, they will get quite a zap. Just be sure to turn if off before you try to move the coop . . .
 
dheltzel said:
I will try to keep some Biels around for a while, since there is demand and they are new and not well distributed yet. Let me know when you have a broody hen and room to raise the Biels.
I am not producing any more bantam cochins from my birds, but I can get eggs from my cousin and hatch some for you when you are ready. I say someone on CL advertising Lavender Cochin bantam chicks. If I did not already have too many birds, I would get some of them.
Click to expand...


I should have some extra bantam Cochins this summer, due to hatch soon.
 
stake said:
For my two cents, if you don't know that its fox proof, it probably isn't....they are pretty hard to get rid of after they get dialed in on your flock...I'd suggest keeping a loaded shotgun handy....
Click to expand...
Can't discharge firearms in the township. Wouldn't be safe either considering the placement of the coop and the neighbors behind us, beside us, etc. We're too close to people/buildings. Police have already been called out for the boys stalking squirrel with their beebee guns.
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What exactly is fox proof? What do I need to concentrate on? Dh is tired of me reading/researching and coming up with more ways to try and "proof" the coops. He thinks what we have is ready for the predators we have. I get nervous b/c I'm the one spending more time raising the chickens and don't want to lose them after so much work. So, is it fox proof or not . . . that's a hard question and depends who you ask maybe?
 
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dheltzel said:
I think it would be hard for a fox to rip through a tarp, especially on the top of the coop. I usually cover the enter curved area with a tarp and attach it at all the grommets with lengths of electrical wire (easy to bend and won't rust and break). If there are open cattle panel holes, even on the top, you might want to cover them with wire or another tarp.

I can't believe a fox would be on top of the coop, that seems like what a coon or hawk would do. I worry about foxes nosing or digging under the perimeter, not them climbing on top.

Maybe you should consider an electric fence around the area. If you put the hot wire a few inches off the ground, on supports that extend it a few inches out from the structure, any fox or coon will touch it as they get close to the coop. If you got a solar or batter powered unit, the hookup would be easy, just ground it to the apron wire and the wire of the cattle panels. If they start to climb over the energized wire, they will get quite a zap. Just be sure to turn if off before you try to move the coop . . .
Click to expand...
I was wrong about not having welded wire under the tarp. There is welded wire 4' up the sides underneath the tarp, just none on the very top curved section. The tarp covers just a bit over half the coop including the welded wire portion and cattle panel section w/o welded wire at the arched top.

Do you think I need hardware cloth around the bottom 24" of the coop all around or maybe at each end where there is only welded wire or no not at all? What would be the purpose of hardware cloth if I already have cattle panels wrapped with 2x4 welded wire? (Girls do roost reliably and are not on ground at night)

Another friend suggested electric around the perimeter of the coop baited w/ a piece of chicken skin, meat, etc to draw in the fox. After a good zap on his nose, he seemed to indicate that may deter repeated attempts at entry. Any suggestion on a good inexpensive set-up that is solar or battery powered?
 
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You guys may already know this but I found the coolest free app this morning. It's called EggHatcher. I just played with it for a few minutes but seems quick easy and very functional
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now I'm all ready for when mine lay eggs hahaha. Have an awesome Monday
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Roada Red said:
Um I think the bigegest we can fit on it is a 8x10 but I am not sure and if he would let us we would just take his role back and he wouldn't have to worry about driving anywhere and then we can save some money instead of paying him for gas
Click to expand...
Maybe too far for you to pick-up, but fits your size and $ parameters + a free silkie! :) Maybe they'll take less too?
http://delaware.craigslist.org/grd/5557428985.html

or maybe this?
http://reading.craigslist.org/grd/5581011335.html
 

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