Some help for a safe coop

[5GodsDown]

Hi all

I'll start building a run in the next few days with materials the previous owners of my house left behind in the garden. They left behind a fair amount of 4ft fence and some iron poles.

Now, we have a lot of cats in the neighbourhood, I also live next to a tiny forest and a large horse pasture, so I wouldn't be surprised if foxes and weasels aren't too far. Surprisingly enough we also have 2 wolves in the area, but I guess they won't go after backyard chickens if sheep are available. We also have a lot of buzzards.

So, for me to sleep soundly and go to work in peace, do you have any advice for me? I was already planning on digging the fence in, but how deep? I'm pretty sure I'm going to get some nets to cover the coop too.

 

[Melky]

You can put a 2 ft apron of Hardware cloth 19g 1/2 inch attached to base of coop/run and cover over with dirt/grass. May landscape around it attractively as well including some rock may help deter predators.

 

[aart]

4' fence may not keep chickens in or predators out...especially the aerial preds.

Anti-dig aprons better and easier rather than burying fence.
Good examples of anti-dig apron installation:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208


I suggest a mesh roof.

 

[kwhites634]

4' fence may not keep chickens in or predators out...especially the aerial preds.

Anti-dig aprons better and easier rather than burying fence.
Good examples of anti-dig apron installation:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208


I suggest a mesh roof.

Your run has impressed me for quite a while. I messed up an embarrassing quantity of conduit trying to do something similar. The tubing bender is not my friend

 

[aart]

Your run has impressed me for quite a while. I messed up an embarrassing quantity of conduit trying to do something similar. The tubing bender is not my friend

It ain't easy...I screwed up several before getting it right.

 

[5GodsDown]

4' fence may not keep chickens in or predators out...especially the aerial preds.

Anti-dig aprons better and easier rather than burying fence.
Good examples of anti-dig apron installation:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208


I suggest a mesh roof.

I was planning to hang some netting over it. I will build the run next to our bigger fence so I can hang the net over it and still stand up inside the coop

 

[coach723]

Netting will keep nothing larger than a bird out. Larger predators will go right through it like it's not there. If you want a truly predator proof enclosure it needs to be all wire mesh, 1/2 inch openings or smaller, all sides and top (unless it has a solid roof), and put the anti-dig barriers around the bottom. Larger than 1/2 inch openings allow for some predators to reach through and grab chickens and try to pull them out resulting in broken necks and legs, etc. Foxes can be up and over a fence in less than a second. It may seem like too much, right up until you lose part or all of your flock to the predator you didn't think was going to be a problem. Predators are going to go after that which is easiest to get. Depending on your particular area you can get away with larger openings in fencing for daytime runs, daytime risk is a bit less but not zero - free ranging comes with risk, but for sure the nighttime area needs to be really secure.

 

[Arkady]

I love your run! Did you bend the poles yourself or buy them like that? Also, how did you attach the galvanized poles to the t-posts?

Poor hawk looks a bit frustrated.

4' fence may not keep chickens in or predators out...especially the aerial preds.

Anti-dig aprons better and easier rather than burying fence.
Good examples of anti-dig apron installation:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208


I suggest a mesh roof.

 

[aart]

I love your run! Did you bend the poles yourself or buy them like that? Also, how did you attach the galvanized poles to the t-posts?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-coop-page