totally new here! thoughts on coop design in predator land?

[rosemarythyme]

Personally having seen what chickens do with dirt, I don't want my birds under the coop building under-mining the foundation. Literally. So my coop is not in my run.

Yeah that was a concern for me, especially since my coop is elevated slightly to keep it off the moisture-laden soil, but definitely not enough for me to access the underside in case birds got down under there.

My solution was to skirt the coop with hardware cloth, as you can see at the bottom perimeter Which of course is an extra expense. Instead of aproning outward as with the run, the excess is tucked under the coop.

Also I should probably mention, my flock took to peeling paint off the coop as well, yet another annoyance! I snugly wrapped the bottom couple of feet with stiff bird netting secured with roofing screws and that put a stop to it, but weird things like that are just another "extra" to account for.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

We spotted a bear come through once, in early April four years ago, but no sightings since (though I'm sure they're around).

Electric is the only thing that stops bears. Reputedly, they're more interested in the feed than in the chickens so include your feed storage in your predator-safe zone too.

While looking at photos, I realized I have not really seen any designs like this. So I wanted to ask, if there a reason this isn't done?

As noted above, this is done. But there are several reasons why many people don't or why, if they started that way, they changed it.

First, people often find that the coop simply eats too much space in the run -- you have to account for that square footage by planning extra run, which requires extra materials.

Second, people often find that they dislike having to enter the run to attend to the chickens' daily needs -- particularly if they work outside the home and have to do morning chores quickly before leaving while in work clothing/shoes.

Third, space/yard layout often dictate design.

The design @U_Stormcrow described, with multiple, rotating pens is the theoretically most perfect option -- allowing ground to recover between uses and allowing groups to be separated for various purposes. If my space considerations had permitted such an arrangement, however, I'd have left a corridor to the coop door and nests because I'm in the group that would rather not walk through the run before work (especially because I'm in food service).

Chainlink fencing with hardware cloth wired to it is very effective, as is aviary netting over the whole run. Even better, add electric wire to the exterior of the run set up to top it off. I did the full 6ft height because I frequently have hens with babies and babies can slip right through the chain link openings.

To me this sounds like the ultimate in security.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I will say that, because I anticipated having goats, I did consider the rotational grazing design for a long time. Ultimately, I abandoned it as the number of animals I have, relative to the amount of acreage I have for their nurishment and entertainment, is such that they don't do great damage to the pastures, there is no need for it to recover.

Now, that means I don't get the benefits in parasite control you get from rotational grazing, either - but since the plan involves a single "common" area at its center, the benefits are not as great as four pastures with four independent structures, and the cost of a dewormer (normally) is less than the cost of my running more electric wire and posts to further divide the roughly five acres set aside for them.

And of course I have no aerial protection, beyond the bird's ability to set off alarm and run for cover. I do use an electric ffence perimeter, a large cleared field with an uninterupted sight line at least 120' in any direction, a fenced run, and within that, a pair of coops - its enough to mitigate predation, but not prevent it.

 

[mowin]

I didn't like the idea of having to enter the run to access the coop. So my runs are attached to the coops. Hardware cloth apron runs around the entire setup. Both runs are completely covered in HC and they are 99% predator proof. Only thing getting in is a bear. I don't run hot wires because the coops are in a fenced in area that my 3 dogs patrol, so I'm not too worried about bears.

 

[zenstarling]

So many great replies here! It is so helpful to see pictures of others' setups when explaining what they do, so thank you! Love that purple coop. You've all given me a lot to think about. Thanks so much!

 

[Shezadandy]

Yeah that was a concern for me, especially since my coop is elevated slightly to keep it off the moisture-laden soil, but definitely not enough for me to access the underside in case birds got down under there.

My solution was to skirt the coop with hardware cloth, as you can see at the bottom perimeter Which of course is an extra expense. Instead of aproning outward as with the run, the excess is tucked under the coop.

View attachment 2964461

Also I should probably mention, my flock took to peeling paint off the coop as well, yet another annoyance! I snugly wrapped the bottom couple of feet with stiff bird netting secured with roofing screws and that put a stop to it, but weird things like that are just another "extra" to account for.

Yep, paint eating and other chicken feats were on my mind when deciding whether to let their sweet beaks near the exterior of the coop. You've definitely done excellent chicken exclusion work! I had the benefit of seeing a friend's coop before I did mine- hers have access to underneath and it's crater city under there. Love the color! I wanted to go purple but got the thumbs down from DH!

 

[Shezadandy]

To me this sounds like the ultimate in security.

The chain link with hardware cloth does work well. I toyed with just doing the first 2-3 feet with hardware cloth to keep all chicken heads and necks inside the perimeter (and out of predator jaws) -- until I had my first broody with chicks and saw just how fast the little buggers learn to jump and how fast they slip out. I'm sure a bear could go right through it, and we do have a bear. Fortunately a well mannered bear that just leaves its piles of poop on the driveway from time to time.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The chain link with hardware cloth does work well. I toyed with just doing the first 2-3 feet with hardware cloth to keep all chicken heads and necks inside the perimeter (and out of predator jaws) -- until I had my first broody with chicks and saw just how fast the little buggers learn to jump and how fast they slip out.

My chicks have thankfully stayed inside the run even though I have things set up that way. Maybe the broody makes the difference... by the time the chicks realize that they could try popcorning out of the run, they're too big to squeeze out of the chain link.

I do find that plain chain link (which I have dividing the run) is ideal for chicks up to around 7-8 weeks, as a panic opening, as they can squeeze through and hens can't, so it gives my little ones a lot of escape options during integration.

 

[Shezadandy]

My chicks have thankfully stayed inside the run even though I have things set up that way. Maybe the broody makes the difference... by the time the chicks realize that they could try popcorning out of the run, they're too big to squeeze out of the chain link.

I do find that plain chain link (which I have dividing the run) is ideal for chicks up to around 7-8 weeks, as a panic opening, as they can squeeze through and hens can't, so it gives my little ones a lot of escape options during integration.

LOL I think part of it had to do with my coop ramp height and proximity to the fence at our first chicken property - the very first group of broody raised chicks didn't have all that far to jump from the ramp over the hardware cloth and thru the fence. (and weren't fun to catch!) I can definitely see how plain chain link would have kind of the 'creep feeder' (borrowed from cattle terms) effect, letting littles through and excluding bigs. Our flock just kinda looks at me and does a collective eye roll when the next broody and chicks come along because it's an almost constant state of affairs.

On the rare occasion we have broody-less chicks, almost always rescued feed store chicks - the ones you see that have been in the bin way too long with bare butts and other injuries that I just can't leave sitting there - that's a really good idea for a home base area. Usually everyone leaves them alone but I could definitely see setting up a corner for them using bare chain link!

 

[mstukofski]

Hi! Just north of you is South-Central MA. I’m starting out too, with all your predators. I’m focusing on making the coop itself Fort Knox, with no holes over a dime existing that’s not caulked or had hardware cloth/flashing over it. Critters can get in holes the size of a quarter (stoats, weasels, rats) so a secure coop is vital.

As for having the coop in a fully enclosed run, that would be very safe, though probably pricy. Hardware cloth is not cheap! I’m making an enclosed run next to the coop of hardware cloth and 2x4’s, covering the top and all 4 sides, with an apron and cinder blocks around the perimeter. While I don’t expect something to dig through super heavy, dense clay soil, I’d rather not take the chance.

As long as your coop is secure, and your run is adequately protected from being breached by critters, a coop in a fully enclosed run will be fine