Should I put my chickens in the hen house in city limits?

[Chickentastic]

Do you think I need to keep the hens closed into the hen house at night? The run and the hen house are all one piece. It's a large chicken tractor enclosed with roof shingles and hardwire cloth. Also at the base, in the middle picture do you think something could dig under that? We live in the city and our main problem is raccoons. Any evaluation and advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[spook]

Personally from experience, if you have to ask should you? Then you should. I have had coon attacks and its always better to be safe then sorry. Also skunks, rats, cats and owls can lay wait for a tastey meal.
I would either place some wire on the bottom or secure it better.
Its horrible when we lose a girl.
Good luck!

 

[serendip]

Cute set up!

I would advise putting hardware wire around the base of the tractor, almost like a skirt, to prevent creatures from digging under (lay it flat on the ground and connect it to the base of the tractor - prob. 18" or so). Additionally, I would cover all open sides (yes, bottom too) of the hen house portion with 1/2" hardware cloth - anything else and raccoons can stick their slim, little hands right through.

Are you familiar with your local codes regarding zoning and chicken keeping? Check out municode.com - it's a great resource.

 

[CityChook]

It's absolutely your personal choice - many folks here leave their birdies free to roam their run all night. But if you absolutely want to guarantee that they'll be there in the morning, then you'll put them into their coop and make sure the door locks. Because yes, it's a matter of time before something digs under that tractor. Even in the city.

 

[phalenbeck]

I lost my first 4 in a similar tractor. For more security check and double check the attachment of that screening. Raccoons are good at pulling and big dogs at jumping at/bashing. More staples and maybe trim boards glued and screwed to those sides. Wire floor for sure---I staple, glue, and screw a furring strip on top of current structure. You want to be able to kick and pull at it for a extended period of time as a adult to duplicate the preditors you have not met in your neighborhood. I also have some solar lights that may help.

 

[chickens3]

Taht si well built

 

[Chickentastic]

Well, thank you for the responses. I'll be headed to the hardware store today to get a door and still thinking about what to do with the henhouse floor. Would it be better to put down a plywood floor?

 

[Chickentastic]

For the floor of a coop would you put 1/2 inch hardwire cloth or 1x2 wire? Plywood floor?