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.
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You only need one ground rod. Put it under a drip edge so when it rains it will drip on the rod for a better ground. @Howard E has some good threads. I have electric fencing around my coops and pens and nothing has penetrated. I have used insulators but when I added a coop, I put in step in posts to hold up the wires. I use the poly rope wire. Make sure your fence charger is strong enough and put out at least 7000 volts which would be about a1 joule charger. Good luck and have fun...https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/electric-fence-basics.1398976/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-treatise-on-electric-fencing.1117877
http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/tips-for-protecting-poultry-from-predators.
