Wall hight

[Anny]

How high can a chicken jump/"fly"

The coop idea I have in my mind is to turn a corner of the garage into a coop, with the run on the outside of tha garage.

I don't know if I want to make the wall do all the way to up to celing if I don't need to....do I need to?

Do you think I should make solid walls or wire walls? And why?

should the door open into the coop? Does this become a issue if I used the deep litter method?

Thank you.

 

[Chirpy]

Hey Anny - Welcome to BYC!!

Bantams can easily fly up over a six foot fence.

Most Standard breed chickens won't fly at all once they are adults ... they are just too heavy. But, occasionally I've heard of one of them clearing a six foot fence. I think that's pretty rare. If they are with other chickens they aren't likely to want to leave and fly the coop ... so to speak.

I have a six foot outside run, partially uncovered at the moment and none of my chickens (even my flighty SSH) has never attempted to fly up to the top.

If the garage is totally predator proof and you are going to lock them inside there every night, then you should be fine with using chicken wire inside the garage to cage them in. Having said that... if it were me I'd still use 2x4 welded wire just in case something got into the garage. My motto: do it the best you can the first time!

As for the outside run area you definitely need to use 2x4 welded/woven wire and put either 1" chicken wire or (1st choice) hardware cloth around the bottom two feet and bury it down into the ground at least 15 inches with the bottom bent outwards. (Hardware cloth is always the best option for all the run but it's pretty much cost prohibitive for most people.)

Which way the door opens is a matter of personal preference but certainly will be an issue if you use the DLM. As the litter builds up you won't be able to open the door -- good that you already thought about that. So, I'd open your door outwards.

 

[Anny]

for my outside run I actually have a dog pen that is about ...6ft tall I think. And I'm going to put wiring on the lower part since the opening in the chain link fence are large.

Thank you for all the info!

 

[wynedot55]

your coop needs tobe 8ft tall for your comfort.an you can use the welded wire for the wall of the coop.its cheaper an easier.but youll have to put 2 by 4s ever so oftent.so the wire wont get loose an sagg.

 

[Anny]

when you say 8ft tall for your comfurt, do you mean so I can stand in it?

I'm very short and so is my family so I'm hoping I can get away with a short coop Being that I am only 4 foot 7

 

[fullhouse]

I use a dog run with a sun tarp on it made for the run ($40 something at lowes). It's great! It's 6' high and I am 5'10" and other than watching the rake handle when I am cleaning no height issues.

 

[wynedot55]

yes you want it tall enough you can stand up in it.id make it 1ft taller than the tallest person in your family.