What's the one thing you wish you had included in your coop?

[MROO]

Has anyone tried paving an apron around the coop perimeter? Would this keep foxes and dogs out?

That should deter them, but I'd still go down a bit, rather than just out from the edge.

 

[Ribh]

Has anyone tried paving an apron around the coop perimeter? Would this keep foxes and dogs out?

I haven't used the apron method but it is recommended. It should work so long as it goes out far enough.

I have a dirt run & definitely better smell wise. The girls turn it all into compost pronto!

 

[Kris5902]

Has anyone tried paving an apron around the coop perimeter? Would this keep foxes and dogs out?

Like with concrete or stone slab type pavers? I would think it might help some...at least with the average dog.

 

[MaryJanet]

Yes, that's what I had in mind.

 

[Kris5902]

Have you figured out how to prevent those nasty raccoons and mink though? They can open doors and squeeze through mouse sized cracks! Sorry, I couldn’t help it... I just had another “conversation” with my coon about keeping at least 5 to 10 feet away from my apronless chicken tractor with the meat girls plastered up on the sides. It can have anything in the cow feeder or on the ground 5’ away from the birds!

 

[Kathy Golla]

More ventilation for the summer to keep the coop cool at night. Treadle feeders. Water and electrical supply near the coop. Automatic waterers. Pen covered with a roof.

 

[MaryJanet]

Where I live, the only predators are foxes, hawks and pet dogs. Maybe a snake once in a blue moon.

 

[Uff Da]

I actually completely covered my coop floor in hardware cloth, and then put a thick enough layer of bedding down that it won't irritate the chicken's feet. My dad has trouble with skunks tunneling into his coop, so I decided to just cover up the whole floor. It's not a large coop, though--6x10.

 

[Uff Da]

Giant eaves, an Automatic door for opening in the morning, and automatic waterers, or at least a hose and running water to reach all the pens (can you tell I just finished lugging all my water out for tomorrow morning for all 54 chickens in 7 different locations over about 2/3 an acre?). I wouldn’t trust a door to close the girls up at night though, I need to do an evening headcount... but not having to get outside so early every morning would be nice!

YES, the watering. Nothing makes you give up chickens faster than hauling water. In heat. Or snow. UGH. Figure out a convenient watering system! Right now I've got a 5 gallon bucket with nipples. In the winter I stick a birdbath heater in it. I still have to haul water, but not as frequently. I wish someone would invent non-freezing hoses....

 

[Kathy Golla]

Giant eaves, an Automatic door for opening in the morning, and automatic waterers, or at least a hose and running water to reach all the pens (can you tell I just finished lugging all my water out for tomorrow morning for all 54 chickens in 7 different locations over about 2/3 an acre?). I wouldn’t trust a door to close the girls up at night though, I need to do an evening headcount... but not having to get outside so early every morning would be nice!

x2!