post your chicken coop pictures here!

[3riverschick]

Making progress on our run....still lots to do.

Yes, yes, Woot ! Woot ! This is the way to do it! I know yours isn't one but this is the answer to all those who bought the premade coops and now don't have enough room! This needs to go into the coops gallery, it is that good! And answers that frequently asked question: " I bought the pre-made coop. It doesn't really hold the number of chickens they said it would. What do I do??" Just an additional thought, if you want a foul weather shelter or bathing area, Lowe's sells translucent vinyl carpet runner ( smooth both sides). Tack it around the outside three sides of the platform the coop is resting on.
Best Success, indeed !!
Karen

 

[DoubleMM]

Work in progress

 

[bruceha2000]

Raccoons have fine manipulative opposing thumb claws and climb everywhere very deftly - fences, wire, trees, etc. so netting over the top of the run is great against aerial predators but the 'Coons will have an easy go of getting into the coop through netting - just sayin'.

Quite true.

I think IN GENERAL, the purpose of covering the run is to keep the arial predators out during the day as the chickens will be in the coop at night. I know it is possible a coon can be hunting during the day but I think that is unusual. Covering it with hardware cloth would necessitate having something to fasten it to along the edge of each "sheet" of wire so you don't have weak places where the pieces meet. More work and expense.

So unless there is evidence of them out and about during the day, I would have to go with the affordable covering option.

 

[vehve]

Quite true.

I think IN GENERAL, the purpose of covering the run is to keep the arial predators out during the day as the chickens will be in the coop at night. I know it is possible a coon can be hunting during the day but I think that is unusual. Covering it with hardware cloth would necessitate having something to fasten it to along the edge of each "sheet" of wire so you don't have weak places where the pieces meet. More work and expense.

So unless there is evidence of them out and about during the day, I would have to go with the affordable covering option.

Or then you can just put a roof on your run and have a nice, dry, hawk and coon free space

 

[tridentk9]

I wonder if a homemade coyote roller type thing would stop raccoons from climbing fences. The rollers spin so there isn't a handhold.

 

[iwiw60]

That is exactly what we did. Painted the walls with some extra paint we had lying around and blackjacked the floor. The trim above the nesting box door has been sealed with caulk to help prevent leaks. There was some talk about switching around the roost so the wider portion is facing up. We may do that as well. We have also put some corrugated roofing over half of the run - solid on the side that gets direct sunlight (so the Hennies can get some shade) and clear on the other side. Thanks for all of the input and for the encouraging words. We are very new to chickens (only 5 weeks in) and are definitely learning as we go!

You said that you were thinking of switching the roost so the wider portion is facing up....you really should do this. Why? Because chickens need the extra wide 'footing' so they will be more comfortable and during winter months they can lay down on their feet keeping them warm....best of luck!

 

[Pecanny]

I built this by myself...slowly over several months. Not bad for a pregnant lady w no building experience lol! I'm proud of myself and my chicks love it!

Bravo!!

That is a lovely coop. And as you said, to be a pregnant woman with no building experience, I second that Bravo!!

Very well done. Everyone should have one of those in their back yard. I love the way you set it under the shade tree, and I'm sure your chickens do to!!

 

[Pecanny]

This is our 8x8 chicken coop we just built. It has a two foot porch on the front for decor. I will post more pics of inside coop this weekend. We made it out of pallet wood mostly and old rustic tin we had. I think it is my favorite place to hang out!

Very nice! Absolutely love it!!

 

[Pecanny]

x 2

Spent 2 weeks house-sitting my daughter's house and dog. One night while we were in the house a raccoon managed to tip over a very full heavy trash can about 3 feet square and about 4-1/2 feet tall. I barely could move it even on wheels and that bugger raccoon was able to push it over and scatter trash all over the backyard like it was only a wastebasket!!! Now I realize why her dog was whining at the back door and growling - she knew something was in the back and I didn't pick up on the signals. Raccoons are crafty, strong, determined, clever at finding the weak points to closed items and then tear away with fine manipulative clawed paws. They are even patient enough to open locks so the more complicated a lock and more fortified a fence, the better for chickens. You see raccoons often kill just for the frenzy of the chase and not necessarily use the chickens as food but just kill for the sheer joy of it. Keeping chickens inside a barrier is easy but keeping predators outside requires very strong secure fencing.

Indeed on the coons. They can get to 40 lbs as an adult. 25 lbs. is quite common. And yeah, they will kill for the pleasure of it. I had a coon kill three and devour only one of them, leaving the other two just laying.

 

[jtbass2756]

Lost 6 out of 9 night before last...Partially my fault since I had them in kennels while waiting patiently for my coop to be finished..was promised the coop before I got them. WORD TO THE WISE: DO NOT BUY EVEN KEETS UNTIL YOU HAVE A SAFE PLACE FOR THEM.!! You may find you can't count on them, even though they promised! I cried all day Saturday....thought I had them staked enough, covered enough, even had windows strapped over the door area.. Only found one head, no bodies, lots of feathers...no innards...lots of bent wire...all my windows were broken, a 40 lb bale of peat moss pulled away from the back of the cages. !! I haven't seen any dogs around but know of some of them on up the road. Just heard that there are more than the average coyotes, raccoons, etc. What's not funny is that I made the statement that "I haven't seen any bunny rabbits in our back yard all day." Usually, I say that, "as long as I see the bunnies....I figure my chickens are safe!" Should have listened to my own feelings!!!!