Recent content by Rick&Chris

How far down did you bury the wire/hardware cloth in the ground?

It was under dirt (not 8") but washed away. We are adding more dirt this weekend and 2"-3" stones on top (stones maybe 4"-6" deep)

I tried something similar. The big ones squeezed in. None of the elders use the feeder/waterer to the left (the original setup they’ve been using for years). When I had a feeder in the little coop, the big ones went in there to eat chasing the littles out. 😩

Sorry for the long post, but I need advice … I have 6 hens (6 years old) and a rooster (2 years old). I have 4 littles (9 and 11 weeks old) that I’m integrating. I have a grow out coop in the run, and just removed a crate that was next to it. Integration has been pretty good, however, my rooster...

Oh, I do! Every day, every night. I even have a camera in the run to keep an eye on them ;)

True - closing the pop door is the safest option, but I’m sure there will be nights when someone (me) forgets or we are away and don’t have anyone to do it. An auto door is an option that I should look into, but then the fear of one getting locked out. 😱 We’ve had small birds get in through...

I close up the man door every night (if I let them out of the enclosed run during the day). When the man door is closed, the inside is secure, unless something digs under, which is what started this thread ;) My setup (old pic, we added trees for shade):

We have not had anything dig to get under the coop (yet) which is why I am shoring up the exterior. I'd like to get an automatic door ... someday!!

Thank you. Do you think that rats or weasels could get through if covered by rocks?

That is not my photo, I was just using it to show what 'could be' after I added the rocks. The first two are of my current wire, the last 2 are examples/ideas for covering the wire. My run is attached to my coop. I leave the pop door open most of the time (unless it is brutally cold)...

Thank you! We had it covered in dirt and mulch (nothing will grow, especially grass). So, are you recommending keeping the current wire and covering with some dirt and smaller stone?

My coop has been in place for 6 years. We did a wire skirt around the exterior and rain has washed away the dirt and it’s now exposed. I’m going to bring in dirt and cover with River Rock. Is this sufficient to keep out predators? Pictures of the wire and a picture of what the “after” should...

I have been letting them integrate and luckily they seem to be fine. The adults are enjoying the chick starter/grower food (LOL) and that seems to distract them from paying any attention to the babies. I did pick up the baby food yesterday and the adults went out into the fenced yard (it's not...

Got it!! Thank you, I'll do that today! Is it OK for them to go out into the fenced yard, outside of the run, or should I keep everyone in for now? My covered run is roughly 8x18. I have six 6 year old hens and a 2 year old rooster, there are four littles. The littles don't come when called...

I love this idea to integrate. Unfortunately, I don't have the space to do this type of separation (if I could only start over, I wasn't thinking of adding more at the time we got our coop). Currently my littles (7 and 8 weeks old) are in a 'grow out coop' inside my run - picture attached. I...