post your chicken coop pictures here!

[redfish514]

1/4" hardware cloth is easier to tack down and cost about the same as 1/2". I use stainless self tapping screws right through the square to my frame.
Lining the bottom two feet will not do much to help as coons climb (as well as just about every other animal I've seen) and a fence would be super easy to scale. IMHO, it is not necessary to line the whole thing with HC. However, in the case of my coop, it is very open and my girls like to sleep on the doors and can be exposed up against the welded wire. Therefore I would put HC anywhere they might lean against while sleeping. they won't move around much once settled. Coons are tricky too, They team up if they think they can get a meal. One will cause a stir and make the chicks move against another wall where a second coon is waiting to grab them. So if you feel that would be a concern, then HC the whole kennel, save the roof part. There are probably others that have better suggestions, this has just worked for me. I also put welded wire in the ground, laying flat around the perimeter of coop and run about four foot out buried.

 

[gpeters3]

Do the nesting boxes have to be enclosed?  Mine are in what I call the nesting box "condo" inside of my combo coop/run.  Do they need more privacy than that?  I could modify it if necessary. 
[/quote]
Because it was inside the coop, my first one had a sloping lid so they couldn't roost on it (didn't work). My current one is set back so front of box is flush with coop wall leaving no perch or roost. It projects into my work space, still inside the building.

What I discovered is that no matter how many boxes you have and how identical they are, all the flock will use only one or two boxes and when they have to lay they will fuss and fuss if another is using the one she wants. As to size and shape, they don't care as long as they can get in. I made mine based on experience. Turns out is a reds fit nicely into a 9-10 inch wide by 16 inch high by 12 inch deep box and at night the bantams will often nest with one of the reds so two can actually fit. That size box allows them to lay flat on their bellies with tail feathers touching the back and head just inside the lip. I use 2x6 for the front of the box to allow a good layer of straw and the edges are rediused to reduce chafing on getting in or out. I will be adding a new perch in front of the boxes, a little further out and slightly higher than the box lip to try to keep the nest boxes cleaner.

 

[redfish514]

Do the nesting boxes have to be enclosed? Mine are in what I call the nesting box "condo" inside of my combo coop/run. Do they need more privacy than that? I could modify it if necessary.

Because it was inside the coop, my first one had a sloping lid so they couldn't roost on it (didn't work). My current one is set back so front of box is flush with coop wall leaving no perch or roost. It projects into my work space, still inside the building. What I discovered is that no matter how many boxes you have and how identical they are, all the flock will use only one or two boxes and when they have to lay they will fuss and fuss if another is using the one she wants. As to size and shape, they don't care as long as they can get in. I made mine based on experience. Turns out is a reds fit nicely into a 9-10 inch wide by 16 inch high by 12 inch deep box and at night the bantams will often nest with one of the reds so two can actually fit. That size box allows them to lay flat on their bellies with tail feathers touching the back and head just inside the lip. I use 2x6 for the front of the box to allow a good layer of straw and the edges are rediused to reduce chafing on getting in or out. I will be adding a new perch in front of the boxes, a little further out and slightly higher than the box lip to try to keep the nest boxes cleaner.[/QUOTE]
Those boxes look perfect. When I was first starting out, I figured six chickens equals six nesting boxes, lol wrong. They have access to only five now, but they all use one box. My boxes are lower to the ground and there is a shelf above them. Thinking of reversing that, but after two seasons of eggs and 1,100 eggs year to date this year, I've had no issues with my boxes. My boxes are exactly 11x12x12 inches and during their peak I often find two LF in the same box at the same time.

 

[ShrekDawg]

1/4" hardware cloth is easier to tack down and cost about the same as 1/2". I use stainless self tapping screws right through the square to my frame.
Lining the bottom two feet will not do much to help as coons climb (as well as just about every other animal I've seen) and a fence would be super easy to scale. IMHO, it is not necessary to line the whole thing with HC. However, in the case of my coop, it is very open and my girls like to sleep on the doors and can be exposed up against the welded wire. Therefore I would put HC anywhere they might lean against while sleeping. they won't move around much once settled. Coons are tricky too, They team up if they think they can get a meal. One will cause a stir and make the chicks move against another wall where a second coon is waiting to grab them.  So if you feel that would be a concern, then HC the whole kennel, save the roof part. There are probably others that have better suggestions, this has just worked for me. I also put welded wire in the ground, laying flat around the perimeter of coop and run about four foot out buried.

Thanks for the info!! Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places but it seems like 1/4 is a little bit more expensive but maybe not and I think you're right, they're still similar in price. Do they carry 1/4 at most places that carry the other size? And if I can't find any (though I'm sure I will), would I have to use like a washer or something on the bigger size so it doesn't come up?

And thanks, I think I'll probably have a roof and I'm going to put them inside (enclosed hopefully and wooden rather than open) at night so would the HC be necessary then? I think I might free range anyway. Although I wonder where the HC two feet up thing came from then? That's interesting they're so sneaky though, although a little scary haha I'm thinking I'm going to put locks on the nest boxes (outside ones) and/or all the doors because I've heard they're really smart and figure out latches and bolts and things shortly

 

[redfish514]

Thanks for the info!! Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places but it seems like 1/4 is a little bit more expensive but maybe not and I think you're right, they're still similar in price. Do they carry 1/4 at most places that carry the other size? And if I can't find any (though I'm sure I will), would I have to use like a washer or something on the bigger size so it doesn't come up?

And thanks, I think I'll probably have a roof and I'm going to put them inside (enclosed hopefully and wooden rather than open) at night so would the HC be necessary then? I think I might free range anyway. Although I wonder where the HC two feet up thing came from then? That's interesting they're so sneaky though, although a little scary haha I'm thinking I'm going to put locks on the nest boxes (outside ones) and/or all the doors because I've heard they're really smart and figure out latches and bolts and things shortly

Most hardware stores (Lowes, HD) and feed stores have the cloth. A washer would work fine on 1/2. I have latches on all my doors with clips

 

[perchie.girl]

my coops have been made of chainlink.... Definately hardware cloth where the chickens roost or hang out. A raccoon can reach a good foot through any wire...

I used half inch because the gauge on the wire was heavier...

But with my rebuild I wont need hardware cloth....

coops here in the desert are pretty much wind breaks and a roof...

And yep getting close to doing the rebuild... its been four years now.

deb

 

[ShrekDawg]

Most hardware stores (Lowes, HD) and feed stores have the cloth. A washer would work fine on 1/2. I have latches on all my doors with clips

Thanks, I'll have to go there. I'll probably just go with whatever is easier and cheaper haha and.you don't have problems with the raccoons opening the doors? Because I was thinking having to unlock a real lock all the tim. might be kind of inconvenient haha

my coops have been made of chainlink....  Definately hardware cloth where the chickens roost or hang out.    A raccoon can reach a good foot through any wire... 

I used half inch because the gauge on the wire was heavier...

But with my rebuild I wont need hardware cloth....

coops here in the desert are pretty much wind breaks and a roof...

And yep getting close to doing the rebuild...  its been four years now.

deb

That sounds like a good idea. And you haven't had problems with predators or.anything?

 

[redfish514]

Thanks, I'll have to go there.

I'll probably just go with whatever is easier and cheaper haha and.you don't have problems with the raccoons opening the doors? Because I was thinking having to unlock a real lock all the tim. might be kind of inconvenient haha
That sounds like a good idea. And you haven't had problems with predators or.anything?

Use a bolt lever with a hole in it to slip a d-link or aluminum clip. Wish I had pictures as that would explain perfectly. Will take one tonight. I too was going to do the lock thing, but that got ridiculous fast. You can never protect from predators too much. A hungry animal will find a way to eat, otherwise there would be no 'predators.'

 

[bruceha2000]

Ah I wasn't sure what the other size was. And also sorry for answering, thought I knew but evidently got the size wrong haha although, would 1/2" work too? Or only 1/4"? And we're going to use an old dog kennel I think, would I need to line it with hardware cloth or do you think it would be similar to the welded wire and okay? I need to secure some corners and places it's starting to peel up but I think it might be okay? Or if I line the bottom 2 feet with hardware cloth? I think the thing's not very wide and I've heard raccoons can reach through holes and rip heads off?

*I* would not use 1/4" hardware cloth. As Deb said, it is a much smaller gauge of wire, therefore less strong. What you are accomplishing with the hardware cloth is keeping predators out. There are no predators that can get through a 1/2" hole. Coons will reach through chicken wire, chain link, 2x4 welded wire fencing etc and snag a bird that is close to the side. That is why the suggestion to have HC the first 2 feet from the ground. Yes coons can climb but the chickens won't be in reach if the coon climb up to where they can reach in. If you have weasels, especially smaller ones (AKA short tailed, stoat, ermine), you want all openings on the coop covered with 1/2" hardware cloth. They can easily get through holes in chicken wire or wire fencing. Here is a picture I found (Wikipedia) of one killing a rabbit. This is how they kill chickens on their roost at night.


And don't forget to have a buried skirt (which could be welded wire fence) so that digging predators can't get in under the wall into the run.

 

[bruceha2000]

Use a bolt lever with a hole in it to slip a d-link or aluminum clip. Wish I had pictures as that would explain perfectly. Will take one tonight. I too was going to do the lock thing, but that got ridiculous fast. You can never protect from predators too much. A hungry animal will find a way to eat, otherwise there would be no 'predators.'

I posted this some time back:

I use a carabiner in mine. It is attached to the door handle with a long cord and is then also useful for holding the door open by clipping the carabiner to the welded wire on the side of the coop.