We have 14 chickens that are free range, but have to be cooped up at night to protect from coons/possums. The two different battery powered automatic doors we have tried are not reliable enough, and I don't want to waste money trying another one.. So I want to build a coop that will allow the birds to come and go as they please, but will keep out coons/ possums.
My chickens have no problem jumping/flying to the top of my 4 foot chain link fence, so I had this idea.
If I cut out a door in the coop wall that is 4 feet off the ground, and nail smooth sheet metal all around the door. I am thinking that this would keep a coon from climbing the wall to the door. And I doubt that a coon or possum could jump 4 feet straight up from the ground to get to the door. The coon also could not come down from the coop roof, as I plan to put a metal roof with a 2 foot overhang above the door opening.
Anyone ever seen or tried anything like this before? Or any ideas on how to build a coop that will allow the birds to freely come and go, while keeping out the coons/possums?
My only concern about the 4 foot height is this though. 2 of my hens and both of my roosters are Bramahs. They are just under 1 year old now and look fully grown , but I have heard it takes 2 years for them to get to full weight. Right now, they have no problem flying to the top of my fence to get over into the neighbors woods to forage. But will they be able to fly that high when they reach their mature weight?
My chickens have no problem jumping/flying to the top of my 4 foot chain link fence, so I had this idea.
If I cut out a door in the coop wall that is 4 feet off the ground, and nail smooth sheet metal all around the door. I am thinking that this would keep a coon from climbing the wall to the door. And I doubt that a coon or possum could jump 4 feet straight up from the ground to get to the door. The coon also could not come down from the coop roof, as I plan to put a metal roof with a 2 foot overhang above the door opening.
Anyone ever seen or tried anything like this before? Or any ideas on how to build a coop that will allow the birds to freely come and go, while keeping out the coons/possums?
My only concern about the 4 foot height is this though. 2 of my hens and both of my roosters are Bramahs. They are just under 1 year old now and look fully grown , but I have heard it takes 2 years for them to get to full weight. Right now, they have no problem flying to the top of my fence to get over into the neighbors woods to forage. But will they be able to fly that high when they reach their mature weight?
