TSC coop and a couple of questions

[Ricefarm224]

Ok, so we got this coop and it says suitable for 6 chickens, but I think not and plan on building a much larger one. In my mind this will be temporary until that goes up. I think we'll use this just to get them initially outside.

I'm thinking about sitting this on a wooden floor supported by a frame of 4x4's, then constructing an enclosed run with welded wire, covered of course. I might even consider containing this within the run. Thoughts on that?

This coop says it is predator resistant and I want make it even much more so by encircling with an electric fence as we have an abundance of racoons around here. The fence will stand off about a foot from the coop. Here's the dumb question about the electric fence...I'm assuming I connect the ends of the hot wire together back at the beginning pole to make a complete unbroken loop of wire correct? I probably already know the answer to that but just to toss it out there to be sure. If I'm being dumb, by all means please tell me.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

No, you aren’t dumb. That’s what you do.
I like your idea of enclosing the whole coop in the run because that will make the coop safer.
They always tell you you can house more chickens than you really can in those coops. I would think three or four chickens. Or six bantams.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

That coop is large enough to house 3 or 4 small standards in a temperate climate as long as they get along well. Otherwise I'd only have 2 larger hens or a pair that get along

 

[saysfaa]

Yes, if you mean a loop back to the wire after it has left the charger. You want only one wire attached to the charger.... about two feet of lead to the fencing loop.

Do you understand grounding rods?

edit to clarify... one wire attached to the charger from the fence. A second wire goes from the charger to the grounding rods.

 

[Ricefarm224]

Yes, if you mean a loop back to the wire after it has left the charger. You want only one wire attached to the charger.... about two feet of lead to the fencing loop.

Do you understand grounding rods?

Yep. I have the diagram that came with the charger. They recommend three rods spaced 10 feet apart. I bought everything, even extra parts just in case.

 

[saysfaa]

Wow, that diagram looks so much like you attach the fence to the charger twice. I just spent a little too much time double checking whether there are two kinds of fence chargers. Then looked more closely... nope, this one has the same connections I am familiar with... make your fencing a loop then attach one lead wire from the charger to the fence loop.... just isn't as clear as it could be. Or I just think backwards, sometimes, lol the right way to do this always seems wrong to me, lol.

 

[3KillerBs]

I can't answer that question, but I'm sure that the answer is in here somewhere: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/a-treatise-on-electric-fences-for-poultry.72229/

 

[cmobley]

You don't need 3 ground rods just one and it could be one of your posts just scratch off a little paint attach the wire. It also doesn't have to be 6 feet deep either.

 

[NatJ]

You don't need 3 ground rods just one and it could be one of your posts just scratch off a little paint attach the wire. It also doesn't have to be 6 feet deep either.

It probably depends on the kind of soil, and how wet it usually is.
The fence company might be showing what works for the most difficult situations.

 

[cmobley]

It probably depends on the kind of soil, and how wet it usually is.
The fence company might be showing what works for the most difficult situations.

Yeah they are. But you don't need all that way overkill for a little coop.