Solid cedar predator resistant chicken coop:

[jimmyj]

I just got talked into chickens by my kids. The kids were seduced by cute chicks at the farm store and I caved in a moment of weakness.

I need to build a coop. I treated lumber ok to use with chickens or is that a bad idea?

Treated lumber is fine, they don't eat it. Modern treated lumber is less nasty than the original stuff was as well.

 

[MotorSeven]

I wanted to update this thread. A couple of months after building the coop I lost a chicken....the usual evidence...feathers around the doorway. I was dumfounded...how the heck did they get past 4 strands of hot wire??? I checked the solar charger, yep working fine, checked all the wires and insulators, yep working fine So I'm standing there scratching my head and it hit me.....I completely forgot to run a ground wire up to the rat wire

This meant the predator was only getting zapped by the wire he was touching while standing on the ground. If he grabbed the rat wire and started climbing and didn't touch a hot wire...no zapping would occur.

So, I ran stranded ground wire from the ground rod clamp up onto the rat wire and twisted it on tight. Since then I have only lost a few new chickens that refused to roost in the coop, instead choosing my tractor or a bale of hay. I also lost my awesome Barred Rock rooster in broad daylight. He was there in the morning, but by evening I couldn't find him.....no forensic evidence was found....must have been a big hungry hawk or he was beamed up and taken to Area 51.

 

[roygage]

[Q Since then I have only lost a few new chickens that refused to roost in the coop, instead choosing my tractor or a bale of hay. I also lost my awesome Barred Rock rooster in broad daylight. He was there in the morning, but by evening I couldn't find him.....no forensic evidence was found....must have been a big hungry hawk or he was beamed up and taken to Area 51.[/QUOTE]

I have a reoccurring dream in which I am walking down the creek south of my place and come upon all the chickens and ducks that have disappeared from my place living happily ever after.

Sort of a poultry version of the Box Car Children.

 

[MotorSeven]

[

I have a reoccurring dream in which I am walking down the creek south of my place and come upon all the chickens and ducks that have disappeared from my place living happily ever after.

Sort of a poultry version of the Box Car Children.[/QUOTE]

:laughing:

very Halloween:thumbsup: