Hello everyone, I'm building a bigger coop because...surprise, surprise...I have more chickens LOL. Anyway my 1st little Coop initially was up on blocks with a secure pen attached, predator-proof Block 2 feet down around the entire perimeter of oens and coop, as my plan was to let the chickens go underneath of the coop in the hot sun. Then I heard Tales of Woe from others about chickens going underneath to the farthest corner and laying eggs under a building where you can't get to them, so I never did let the chickens go underneath of the coop, I blocked it off with 2 by 6 treated lumber and to provide shade bought them little cozy gazebos in their pens which they absolutely love. Anyway to make a long story short, I have unwittingly provided a wonderful home for mice underneath of the coop, they are not disturbed by any chickens or anything else for that matter because it's entirely blocked off. So here is the Dilemma of what to do, should I let chickens go under the existing coop? It is entirely a predator proof area. Now with the new coop, I only predator-proof the pen portion I did not predator-proof around the entire perimeter of the building. Where the pen is attached to the building it is obviously blocked off and dug down a few feet into the ground so an ornery Fox if he were to go under the building to try to get in that way he would not be able. I am wondering what to do, right now it is entirely open under there any cat or chicken if they are free-ranging can go under the building as they please. I've seen other people put decorative yet functional lattice around the bottoms of sheds and coops to keep skunks out, however no matter what I seem to want to put there, I know mice will find a way in for sure. Any comments and experiences or advise shared would be greatly appreciated. I'm sort of at the point of just leaving it completely open on three sides so that any cats will have free access to mice underneath of the new Coop. The old Coop since I completely Dug down around the entire perimeter so that it is Fox proof, I'm thinking of opening up underneath of the old Coop and letting the chickens go under there, that would scare off the mice wouldn't it? Thank you so much in advance for any advice I greatly appreciate it.
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