Sort of remodeling my coop? Need input.

[AngelinaThePekin8]

The standard answer is hardware cloth. Someone above mentioned metal lathe.

2x4 wire plus 1" chicken wire can work.

I had my non-predator-proof builds last summer inside an electric fence.

What do you have available?

Chicken wire, and I don't know what else we have right now, I haven't seen any skunks or Fox's at all lately so I am not to worried. And there is wild rabbits and Jack rabbits all over the place. I think that there is more than two rabbits living in the pallet pile and under the wood logs near it. There is also a bunch of those little songbirds that eat the scratch grains in the chicken feed, I really don't like them being around the chickens and ducks right now.

 

[3KillerBs]

Chicken wire, and I don't know what else we have right now, I haven't seen any skunks or Fox's at all lately so I am not to worried. And there is wild rabbits and Jack rabbits all over the place. I think that there is more than two rabbits living in the pallet pile and under the wood logs near it. There is also a bunch of those little songbirds that eat the scratch grains in the chicken feed, I really don't like them being around the chickens and ducks right now.

If chicken wire is what you've got then chicken wire is what you've got.

It's not strong against dogs, coyotes, or raccoons, but you're in an unusual situation.

 

[AngelinaThePekin8]

If chicken wire is what you've got then chicken wire is what you've got.

It's not strong against dogs, coyotes, or raccoons, but you're in an unusual situation.

We have coyote's here but they stay away from the houses and I have never encountered racoons either I don't think they live where I live, most of the dogs in the neighbor hood are around chickens, or are mostly well mannered. And I am going to try chosing pallets that don't have really huge gaps between each board. And last I saw we had three things of chicken wire. I think I have seen some weasels before. But those are definitely not something I would expect to see.

 

[saysfaa]

The pallets can do a lot to keep predators out.

 

[AngelinaThePekin8]

The pallets can do a lot to keep predators out.

Yes they can, ever since our first coop blew down they were kept in pallet coops, and at one point in our breezeway.
I am going to take a picture of all the chickens and ducks when they are all in the coop, and going to sleep.

 

[AngelinaThePekin8]

I got some pictures of them all bedded down for the night.

The ducks like to hang out in the nack of the coop.

 

[AngelinaThePekin8]

These are the two pallets, they both have a side that has close together boards. I was thinking the smaller one could be a door or something. I need to work on making building plans for it, that way I know what to use and where to put things.

The pallets are a bit torn up, so before building with them I am going to have to take out loose nails and any broken boards. I will get close up pictures of all of the pallets that I am going to use, when I get them out.
I am thinking that building the pallet coop will have to wait for a really warm day that is not too windy. I don't know when a day like that will be. I just know it is 20 degrees and sunny paired with 20 to 30 mph winds.

 

[AngelinaThePekin8]

All of the chickens and ducks have been staying in the coop today, they come out every hour or so but go back in after getting water and food. They would do this the last few winters but not all of them would stay in the coop, only about three chickens would stay in the coop last winter and even this winter. I think since there is wood shavings in there now, that have decided it is better in the coop instead of the wind.

 

[AngelinaThePekin8]

I don't know when I will be able to start on the pallet duck coop. There has been constant 40mph winds today, it is about 30 degrees outside and sunny.
I want to work on the extra ventilation for the current coop, as soon as I can but I don't think it is a good idea to do it in this wind. And because snow was blowing the night before yesterday some snow got in the coop, it wasn't much but there was snow from the nesting box's, one of the nesting box's was filled with about and inch of snow.
Here are closer pictures of the two pallets that I grabbed.

I am going to remove any unnecessary screws and nails from all the pallets that I will use. And maybe even sand down some spots on the pallet for the door. I will make a lot of modifications to the door pallet.

 

[AngelinaThePekin8]

So today it is 40 degrees outside and not to windy, I am going to drill the holes today and I have a quick question.
Would drilling a hole under this overhang be a good idea, the wind is usually blowing on the other side of the coop, I am thinking that the overhang would act as a rain/snow blocker if any would even get in from this side.

I would like to know a little more and have a plan of attack before just drilling a hole(s. So any last minute ish advise would be very helpful and appreciated.
I also took all the wood shavings out today as they were damp, and I am going to put fresh ones in after we do the hole drilling.
When I cleaned all the shavings out the stuff that protects the wood from the poop got pulled up again, I need to change that stuff and replace it as well. Thank you in advance.

These girls had to see what was going on.

And I think Totoro laid this egg, this is the first egg since like winter started.