Its going to take a good bit of work to build your moat: Construct it of durable materials so you wont have to do the job again later. Keep Predators Out Of Your Chicken Coop | Large Chicken Coops One way to put it all together is to rest the two large plywood pieces on the ground with the tree in the middle. Chickens have a natural instinct to sleep off the ground and by giving them a roost inside they will feel secure and want to go into the coop at night. Over the years, MOTHER EARTH NEWS has offered several DIY chicken coop plans, particularly designs for portable chicken coops. To cinch the mesh to the plastic framing, we used 17-gauge smooth galvanized wire, which is easy to bend yet durable. How to keep sparrows/wild birds out of run!? If you simply can not remember to close up your chickens at night or youre not home in the evenings, the best way to protect your flock is to take advantage of a nifty piece of modern technology: automatic chicken doors. And also I like to use fresh pine shavings inside the coop. Nothing other than insects can penetrate this wire! It has been a challenge. This will make it impossible for predators to access the inside of the coop through windows and vents. Cheap Predator-Proof Chicken Run A safe run equals happy chickens, and you want happy chickens or else you won't get any eggs. Some people have commented they thought theyd have to choose between their chickens or their garden but this solution accommodates both! Some raccoons will just rip open chicken wire and enter at will. One of the biggest mistakes you can make while keeping a flock of backyard chickens is to not provide them adequate predator protection. You must move it from tree to tree every few days because it wont take long for your chickens to fertilize the area and scratch away anything that dare grows. So youll need a complicated lock, a padlock with a key, or a combination lock for your chicken coop. Consider planting taller perennials to pull double duty as forage and cover from predators. We dont mow, ever. But one evening we had a raccoon break into our first chicken coop at dusk. When predator proofing, it is important to think like a predator as you build your chicken coop and consider incorporate some of these designs and ideas. Chicken tunnel | BackYard Chickens - Learn How to Raise Chickens Add 1 3/4-inch lips along the straight edges of one of the plywood semicircles by attaching two 35-inch 1-by-4 boards. Just like the chunnel, this system isnt permanent. Keep your feed under lock and key! While chicken wire is a more economical choice, in the long run, its a poor investment. Boy, have we got some ideas for you! My name is Meredith, Im an artist, writer and teacher living in Knoxville, TN. And, dont worry, theyre programmable so you dont have to be concerned about closing your hens out. Just as the bridge for your chicken tunnel system, the underground passage is yet another ingenious integration of chicken tunneling. The company offers covers alone ($12 each), nest boxes with pail and cover ($20) and other items through various retailers listed on its website. This lip will act as a support for the other large plywood semicircle, which youll screw on when putting them together to create the roof. Its intended for three or four hens, costs only about $100 in materials and can be assembled in a few hours from standard welded wire fencing. This portable chicken coop plan includes an inexpensive plastic doghouse, slightly modified, to shelter the chickens. 3 Methods for Heating Greenhouses for Free. Try adding branches, cut logs, even old ladders for climbing. Ok, maybe that s a little extreme, but at least keep feed securely contained. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I helped care for about 80 chickens in TN, but now live in CO. You can have signs of predators all around you but none will dare come near the coop. Youll begin by cutting 1 1/2 inches off the ends of two of the 1-by-3 boards. Planning is the most fun part of building your chunnels because theres no limit to what you can do. Add outside roosts and perches. To create the roof of the movable coop, lay two sheets of plywood side-by-side to create an 8-foot square. The main part of the chicken coop and the attached predator proof run are open 24/7. This protective enclosure for the garden uses chickens as an effective garden pest control along with a moat to protect your crops. Other colors are available but cost more. So always use metal locks that avoid rusting and require two steps to open- such as ones with a spring protected latch or a slide and twist mechanism. What to Do with Chickens During a Tornado or Hurricane. Using a plastic storage container as a baby chick brooder, CHOPPED GARLIC ADDED TO FEED - BEST CURE FOR MITES/LICE, Geese raising goslings on their own and viability, Quail chicks. Chicken Tunnels For The Garden - A Chicken Super-Highway Bury the chicken wire or hardware cloth 12 inches deep all along the run to add an additional barrier against burrowing predators. Either way, youll have a blast building them. Once you are done, you can sit back and enjoy the show. To anyone thinking of getting one of those cute little coops. Although a bit more expensive, it will last longer and be more resistant to rot and deterioration in the elements. I will definitely send this post to him. Some predators seek out chickens from the air and others hunt on the surface. You may want to install a handle or drill a hole so you can easily remove the lid just keep raccoons in mind. "Every coop should be predator-proof. Alternately, you can bury a predator apron just below the surface of the soil, parallel to ground level. Whether you already live on a homestead, are transitioning onto one, or are only thinking about it, 52 Homestead Skills will help turn your dreams into a life worth living. Free Chicken Coop Plans is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I grew up with backyard chickens and I can't imagine living without them. How to Predator Proof the Chicken Run - Tilly's Nest Both coops have handles for easy moving. Id like to say that quarter inch hardware cloth is the best choice. At 39 1/2 inches wide and just under 9 feet long, its roomy for up to four birds, even with a third of it acting as an enclosed shelter. 4-foot-wide roll of 16-gauge, 1/2 inch, galvanized wire mesh, 4 pieces of exterior-grade 1-by-3 lumber of desired length, 1 piece exterior-grade 1-by-3 lumber, 8 feet, optional, 2 pieces of 3/4-inch plywood, about 22 by 19 inches each, 2 sheets of 1/2-inch plywood, 4 by 8 feet, 25 feet of 2-foot-wide, 1/2-inch, galvanized wire mesh, 2 pieces of 1-by-4 lumber, 35 inches long, 16 pieces of 1-by-3 lumber, 4 inches long. It is very interesting. Need help with predator proofing - BackYard Chickens Leg problems. DIY Home Biodiesel Production: Make Your Own Fuel. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a3ead3c31a46b64c5beb24ba05a1c5ae" );document.getElementById("ba63d0f81a").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Works like a charm! Another option for securing the bottom of the coop is to use a singleelectric wire near the ground so that a predator such as a rat or a raccoon will get its nose shocked when it tries to burrow under. Remember that when building your chunnels, dont let your chickens have access to the garden itself because they will destroy it. Thankfully, there are many measures so you dont have to know the heartbreak of losing one of your beloved chickens! Finally, when there was just one guinea left, it decided the coop was the safe place to be and guess whos still alive today? There are mixed reviews as to how well these works, but it doesnt hurt to try if you dont have other options available to you right away. CHICKEN DIY: 20 FUN-TO-MAKE PROJECTS FOR HAPPY, HEALTHY CHICKENS, STARTER COOPS: FOR YOUR CHICKENS' FIRST HOME, Large Chicken Tractor Plans for Raising Broilers. Birds kept in a portable chicken coop on pasture provide delicious, inexpensive eggs, and eggs from birds that get plenty of grass, bugs and seeds to eat are better for you than store-bought eggs (read the results of our egg nutrition testing in The Good Egg). Be extra careful when you cut the two full 18-inch circles because youll use those pieces as lids. Chickens are tireless workers who love to scratch (its basically all they do), and are great help when it comes to controlling grass, weeds, and bugs. Dig it down just a few inches and then cover it with soil, wood chips, mulch or other plantings. It will take them more time to chew through a solid floor. Just in case a predator like birds of prey come sailing overhead. All were shrink-wrapped. It gets cold here in the winters and hot here in the summers. Unless you plan to use this system with meat chickens or, as in our case, your chickens are still young, you could expand upward. In my experience, these fences rarely work to keep chickens in, but they will keep predators out. Learn how to create your own easy kitchen garden to produce fresh fruit, veggies and herbs for delicious, healthy meals. Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance. Many chicken keepers have dirt floors in their chicken coops, which we cant recommend. My moat is simply a strip of dry land, enclosed by two parallel fences, which surrounds my familys garden. This was fine when we lived in a forest, but now we live amongst grass and hayfields. In my opinion, the bigger the better is always a good rule of thumb. The rectangular coop kit is less expensive because it doesn't use pre-bent hoops, and because the white pipe is less costly. It can take only one predator to completely wipe out your entire flock in a night. Various materials are used in constructing a chunnel which range from, Chickeneers put their thinking caps on and come up with some. 3 Methods for Heating Greenhouses for Free. Theyre going to be digging as close as they can to the base of the coop where theyll immediately run into the apron.. Since you must have a predator problem on hand, here are additional tips that might help you out. Let chickens takeover your garden pest control efforts with this innovative "chicken moat.". The hens patrol around the garden on the lookout for weeds, seeds, worms, tiny pieces of stones and (best of all) bugs. How to Make Your Chicken Coop Predator-Proof - PetHelpful We've got one of the best predator proof chicken coop plans. Both coops use the durable corrugated plastic to provide shelter for the chickens. It, too, is so light that anyone can move it easily, and is big enough for four birds. These portable chicken coops are designed so that either end drops down for access to feeders and waterers, and to allow your chickens out while youre there to supervise (your presence should deter predators). It goes without saying that your chickens benefit from any form of free-ranging. Find the center, and, using a 4-foot piece of string as a guide, scribe an 8-foot-wide circle on the boards. And one last tip (the old free breakfast trick): Leave some old boards in the moat, and flip them over with a hoe handle each morning to expose hiding slugs. For those of you with bears or large cats, consider installing an electric fence or welcoming a live stock protection dog to your home. Many thanks for this valuable and detailed post about Chicken Tunnels For The Garden. Map the route for your chicken tunnel while taking into consideration the specifications of your back yard. Do you have any suggestions for chickens that would fare well in Colorado weather and are good egg-producers? Because we sometimes house our chickens in the chunnel overnight, we decided to cut some old wire shelving we had on hand and stick it in the ground along the edges of the chicken tunnel to prevent predators from digging underneath. Finally, another way to help protect your chickens is to keep the coop clean and free of food scraps. When you build a chicken coop, make sure to provide them with indoor roosts. A floor made of solid material, such as concrete, will make it difficult for predators to dig their way in. With the help of another person, roll out the wire mesh over the boards, stapling it even with the outside edge of the boards as you go. Their exteriors are clad in welded wire mesh, and youll need easy-to-use J-clip pliers to join the welded wire sections. We used a cordless drill to punch holes in the plastic and wired these pieces of plastic to the frame. A reel of poly wire and a portable solar charger are an inexpensive option that can save you and your flock from devastation in the long run. The open floor has lots of advantages, the main one being that your flock can graze directly on grass and veggies or scratch around in the soil. And it is pretty insane how they can squeeze through those small holes! With a few simple steps to predator proof in the beginning, you can feel good about the home you create for your flock over the coming years as well as sparing yourself from the heart ache of a preventable attack. This will deter predators from digging underneath the coop and getting to the chickens. If you prefer to just build a run for your coop, thats fine too. Their natural desire is to protect their ladies. Im here to teach you how to get back to your roots. This allows the chickens a small protected area to eat and drink, even in the early morning or the evening. Of course, the ramp leading up to the bridge needs to be gradual enough to allow your chickens to maneuver their way up and down. A flimsy wire that bends easily is definitely not recommended. Chickens in the Garden: Eggs, Meat, Chicken Manure Fertilizer and More But many folks swear by placing a guard goose in with their flock to warn of attacking predators and scare them off. Predator proofing the coop Your coop should be made of strong, sturdy materials that cannot be penetrated by digging paws and gnashing teeth. I kinda like to use fresh dirt to surround my chicken coop. An electric training collar can be an invaluable tool if your dog is bred to go after chickens (like a retriever). The Walk In Chicken Run is the safest place for your chickens. Create your own DIY chicken coop using a truck frame and some basic carpentry skills. You can install a right/left-sided triangular or square frame. These two openings will allow you to provide your chickens with food and water. Bonus! To prevent predators from reaching in and grabbing your chickens while they are in the chunnels, we recommend using a ", 23-gauge predator-proof wire. Assisted hatch. Adding a roof the run has many benefits. Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance, https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208, https://www.backyardchickens.com/thder-2020-version.1529488/page-7#post-25809665. But not only that, chicken wire is only designed to keep chickens in not predators out. This has to be the coolest component of chunnels that we have seen! Protect livestock in the winter, then move over the vegetable plots in spring-fall! Watch Now: How to Truss a chicken Article Sources Height should be as tall as your largest chicken with an additional 6 and wide enough to accommodate two chickens passing through at the same time. Safe and sound! Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants. Its amazing the way they can manage to get into the coop when they really are determined to do so! Very similar to photo above, but not as . One of the hardest things in keeping chickens is keeping those chickens out of the reach of chicken predators. Food scraps can also attract predators to the area. But there are hidden challenges with free ranging. To have a predator-proof chicken tunnel, youll need wiring that is designed to protect your chickens. Nothing other than insects can penetrate this wire! This portable coop with a welded iron frame is solid and predator-proof indeed, and it will last forever, but Long reports the steel frame makes it too heavy for some people to move easily (and youd have to find a welder to build it for you if you dont have that skill). Just like with the eggs sitting in the coop overnight, food scraps could work as a predator attractant. You can use low cost materials or add in some better stuff either way, it is sturdy. These are often constructed by digging a trench down 12 around the entire perimeter of your chicken run and burying the hardware cloth beneath the ground. At MOTHER EARTH NEWS for 50 years and counting, we are dedicated to conserving our planet's natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. Construct a Chicken Moat for Effective Garden Pest Control A. 6. The closer the electric net spacing, the more effective it is against smaller predators. The tunnel system allows you to give your chickens a large, protected area in which to range and distribute manure while staying safe from predators. Circo Innovations offers three styles of coop frame kits to MOTHER EARTH NEWS readers (see list below). Raising the chicken coop off the ground by 1 foot or more creates an obstacle for small predators to overcome. There will be less bullying and picking at each other since the tunnels provide room to roam and spread out. They preferred the cover of pine trees and one by one, they were eventually taken by Barred owls. Cow panels or chicken wire also work, but hardware cloth is a nice happy medium in terms of price . Rotten spots in your wood make for easy entry points for many predators. The birds shelter in an enclosure at one end made of the same durable yet easy-to-work corrugated plastic that the postal service uses in its mail tubs, and a cleverly fitted 5-gallon pail with a special cover serves as a nest box. Free Chicken Coop Plans is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The second layer of protection could be an expertly designed predator-proof chicken coop (Amazon), which is a secure enclosure that keeps chickens safe against predators. The area just in front of the bottom of your fence lines is wasted space. Do I need to build a shed with windows so I can have a heat lamp? The eggs of free-ranging chickens are much tastier and nutrient-packed. Wherever you would use chicken wire, such as window areas for ventilation, around the bottom, or to make the run, use hardware cloth instead. Your chickens could even decide to range on top of your car, in your garden, or in the middle of the road. The easiest way to do it is to let it run along the fence, starting from the coop. Build your gates strong and tighttheyre the weak links in the system. If its just a tunnel between the garden you'll let them used when you're out there only then you can probably get away without them. For example the runs are made from extra heavy duty steel weld mesh and have anti tunnel . Especially in conjunction with hardware cloth, this can be an effective approach. The shape of this coop saves a bit of money on the cost of the welded wire mesh because it uses a little less than the rectangular coop. Profit from rainy days with a system that will collect and store your rainwater for future use on the homestead. It will also sit on a 4-by-10-foot raised garden bed. Its so light that one person can easily lift either end to shift it to new ground and fresh grass. The child in you comes out as you plan the direction, placement, and style of tunnels youll use for your cluckers. Create a digging barrier. Nor is a frame constructed from materials that will collapse or bend easily. Ussery discusses how to grow your own poultry feed, and how to use chickens in the garden to build soil health. Choose two-step locks or ones that require the use of opposable thumbs to get open. Predator Proof Chickens While on Grass || Chicken Tunnel If you built apredator-proof chicken coop that is. A solid floor will keep any burrowing invaders like rats or raccoons from getting in. They will be stress free and this helps to keep your flock healthy and happy. You'll find tips for slashing heating bills, growing fresh, natural produce at home, and more. Also. to reduce garden pests and insects. You have to evaluate your biggest predator risks to determine which is best for your situation. Having a few laying hens in the backyard has almost become the icon of todays self-sufficiency movement. Keep in mind that with this design, there isnt a space for your chickens to roost. An excuse to buy more poultry! So make 100% sure that the seams are securely attached. CHOPPED GARLIC ADDED TO FEED - BEST CURE FOR MITES/LICE, Geese raising goslings on their own and viability, Quail chicks. By making these simple changes, you can help keep your birds safe from harm. Run and garden are separated by about 20 feet and it runs along fence line behind shed. STARTER COOPS: FOR YOUR CHICKENS' FIRST HOME, CHICKEN COOPS: 45 BUILDING PLANS FOR HOUSING YOUR FLOCK. To keep the seam secure, you can use hog rings and a hog ring plier to fasten the fencing material where it overlaps. Hopefully, by taking these precautions to create a predator-proof chicken coop, your predator problems will be at an end and your biggest backyard-chicken-keeping-challenge will be what to name your new chicks! Because your chickens have the area to roam within the tunnels, they are not bunched together, where disease loves to thrive. This step helps to reduce the number of mice, rats, and snakes that can creep into the coop. Smooth out the temperature range in your greenhouse by adopting one of these strategies for heating greenhouses. If you open windows to provide ventilation for your coop, make sure you protect them with scraps of leftover hardware cloth or wire mesh. These screws should pass through both boards and a hole in the mesh (see illustration). The completed rectangular coop kit costs around $300 less than the hooped coop, because it uses less expensive white plastic pipe, but it requires slightly more welded wire mesh. This added security will prevent raccoons from ripping the staples out. The cats will crawl under and eliminate any rodents or other small, annoying visitors. The area just in front of the bottom of your fence lines is wasted space. Instead of walking over and around your chickens tunnels around the yard, why not build up and construct an elevated pass over or bridge? Man, some of these guys are crafty! Build an Affordable, Portable and Predator-Proof Chicken Coop. So, my husband, Jrmie, came up with another solution a circular fertilization station that surrounds a tree so the chickens can keep the grass at bay while providing their fertilizer services. You can use whatever fasteners you have available just make sure you use them. If you're looking for a simple way to predator-proof your chicken run, then hardware cloth is a great option. I installed 4 of these little gadgets around my chicken coop, facing out in all four directions. Mary Aug 28, 2022 #7 WIchickMama Free Ranging Aug 15, 2021 2,961 10,490 656 Western WI Rainbowdahling said: How would you recommend attaching the hardwire cloth to the frame? Be careful, because electric net fencingcan be an entanglement hazard, especially with young children. If you like to feed your hens treats(And who doesnt? All in all, its a clever solution to the fowl raisers dilemma of whether to fence the birds or the garden: Fence both! Hands down, my favorite way to prevent animals from burrowing under my chicken coop and run is the predator apron system. Urine and feces smell will keep predators at bay at night as well. Build a Movable Coop for Around Trees Tools & Materials 2 sheets of 1/2-inch plywood, 4 by 8 feet 4-foot piece of string To make a secure chunnel, youll start with a 4-foot-wide roll of 16-gauge, galvanized wire mesh. Free 4x4x8 Chicken Coop And Run Plan For Four Chickens, FREE Chicken Coop Plan With Planter Box For Two Chickens, FREE 620 Chicken Coop Plan For Up To 15 Chickens, Free Chicken Coop Plan For Three Chickens, FREE Chicken Coop Plan for Two to Four Chickens, FREE 48 Chicken Coop Plan For 10 Chickens PDF (low design), FREE Chicken Coop Plan For 6 Chickens (or more! If you plan to move the chunnel, I recommend cutting a minimum of three 2-foot cross pieces from the optional 8-foot 1-by-3 board in the materials list, and fastening them across the bottom of the frame to keep everything solid. With the current shortage of serfs, the practice has fallen out of favor. Secure the top of the chicken run with aviary netting or deer netting. They get a thrill from free-ranging in the yard and garden. Circo offers a discount of 30 percent on orders of four kits or more. They love to explore, scratch in the grass and hide under large plantings for afternoon naps. Predators who might dig their way in won't dig a tunnel, they'll just dig enough to get under the frame in order to get in. In days gone by, rulers of kingdoms would protect themselves by ordering a few thousand serfs to build a moat around the family castle. Hi, Im hoping to get some chickens for eggs. How would you recommend attaching the hardwire cloth to the frame? This allows for easy accessibility for you to clean, maintain, feed and visit with your flock easily. , Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures. Author/Blogger/Freelancer-Sharing adventures with backyard chickens, beekeeping, gardening, crafting, cooking and more. It certainly cant hurt to let predators know theres a dog nearby! The design is simple and utilizes materials that are long lasting, recyclable, and biodegradable. Free Chicken Coop Plans also participates in affiliate programs with Clickbank, ShareASale, and other sites. Looking for some movable chicken coop ideas? Having the chicken tunnel fence act as the third support wall of the tunnel, you spend less money on materials. Another great movable chicken run we utilize is our circular fertilization station that we use for controlling grass and pests around our young fruit trees. Can they kill a chicken or chicks, introduce disease, or even steal my flock? Throughout the day, the hen patrol moves all around the garden (but never in it), munching on all those things hens love: weeds, seeds, worms, tiny pieces of stones and (best of all) bugs. Order from the GRIT Store or by calling 800-234-3368. Building your own coop out of quality wood materials is the best way to ensure your coop is predator-proof. Are you looking for a super fun way to let your chickens free range but in a more controlled manner? If keeping an extra large dog on your property simply isnt an option, you might be able to mimic having one. Of course, the ramp leading up to the bridge needs to be gradual enough to allow your chickens to maneuver their way up and down. A predator apron is simply fencing material that is installed above the ground and runs along the perimeter of the chicken coop and enclosed run. Step 1. Currently, she is a professor of Horticulture, an Education Specialist, and pest specialist. When chickens feel safe, they will be more productive with their egg laying. For the most protection (vs things short of a bear) hardware cloth on any opening larger than 1/2". These are some of our favorite treats for our chickens. I believe that simple living leads to a better life. Some predators dig, while others burrow. Kathy (the "Chicken Chick") says that a sturdy hen house is a top priority for protection against predators. I think Advan Tech OSB Subfloor is a really great choice considering your chickens will be putting a lot of moisture on the floor from the top. All you have to do is attach the fencing material to the bottom boards around the perimeter of the chicken coop by hammering in poultry staples. Allows the chickens the ability to outside for extended periods of time during periods or rain and snow. How to Predator Proof a Chicken Coop | HGTV