hen houses – How to fox proof chicken run & garden? – Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers

  

How to fox proof chicken run & garden?

We have already had 2 chickens eaten by the fox due to a weak lock, we have now changed both locks so they are secure. We got 2 new chickens ( a buff orpington hen and light sussex cockerel) and we have a hen house which joins the coop like this..

http://s460.photobucket.com/albums/qq322…

i hope you can see that.. lol
and you can shut them in the hen house at night (which we do)
But in the day we let them roam the garden while my dad is at work and put them in at night but the other day he returned and saw the fox in the garden so had to really quickly chase him out. Now my dad is threatening to get rid of the chickens unless i find a way of keeping them safe

HELP!

i was thinking maybe he could keep them in the coop till he gets home at 5 then letting them out till sun-down while he is home so they are safe. Whats a good reppelent for foxes or how can i make the garden safer? i dont even know how the fox is getting in!
should we put chicken wire somewhere? can the fox get into the coop? will the cockerel protect them?

HELP PLEASE im so upset and scared of losing them, i love them..

How To Build Chicken Coop Structures Using Simple Plans

Want to build chicken coop structures? Don’t worry, we can help you with that. In this article, we present DIY steps on how you can construct a simple, functional coop.

Parts of a chicken coop

There are certain parts necessary for a chicken coop. These areas should be part of the structure if you want your chickens to remain happy and healthy and to make life easier for you.

A well-designed coop should have a nest box where hens can lay eggs or just serve as a roosting area for the chickens. Perches should also be part of the structure as you can’t expect chickens to stay on the floor all the time.

Feeding and water troughs are also a must. Scattering their feeds on the house floor is not advisable. Chickens, too, need discipline and a bit of dignity. Having a proper place for them to feed and drink will also keep them healthy.

During cold months, the coop should be properly insulated. One simple way to do this is to install a light bulb or lamp inside the coop which you can turn on when night comes and cold sets in.

Ventilation is very important. The coop should have enough openings to let air in and out. Most chicken coop plans provide for this necessity very well as it is probably the most important factor to consider in designing a coop.

Materials and tools needed

Most coops are made from wood and wire mesh or chicken wire. You can purchase these materials from any hardware store or you can gather scraps from old structures to save money.

Basic tools include a hammer, nails and a drill. If you have these three, you can make your coop. Additional tools might be needed, but most of the time, these three are enough.

Points of consideration

Before building your coop, or even before you choose your design plans, make sure that you’ve already decided what breed to raise and how many.

You also need to size up the area where you’re going to put the coop. The allotted space should be enough to accommodate the structure without cramping the chickens.

City regulations on breeding chickens should also be a concern. Yes, chickens too are governed by law, particularly if they are to become residents of a particular city.

L
1000
astly, make sure you have enough protection around the coop, like a fence, to protect your flock from predators and outside forces that might be interested in stealing or harming your chickens.

When you build chicken coop, make sure that you’ve studied all the parameters thoroughly so as not to waste your time and your investment.

By: Dean James

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Learn how you can build your own chicken coop quickly and cheaply using easy to follow instructions by reading our Building A Chicken Coop Review as well as more useful information and handy tips at => www.diybuildchickencoop.com

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Pets Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From – Home | Home & Family | Pets

Finding the perfect dog clothing
Information About Guinea Pig Cages
Organic Chicken Based Dog Food: Good Reasons to Use It?
Creating a Natural-feeling Hamster Home Without the Smell
Pup Dog Training
What are Owl Pellets – Explanations and Reasons
Dog Flea Care: Get Rid Of Dog Ticks Once And For All
Warm Weather Brings In Amazing Promotions On Flea Medications
Cats and Scratching

1000
Does Dog Agility Seesaw Designs Affect the Performance of Dogs on the Obstacle?
The Amazing Eyes of Animals
Strange Fishes of the Deep
Home Remedies for Mange that You Can Try at Your Home
Celebrate Halloween With Pretty Dog Costumes
Choosing a Bed For Your Dog!

If you’ve been raising hens for any long period of time, you’ll know the importance of a hen house. If you’re serious about raising and looking after any number of hens then you need a durable hen house, no doubt about it. You have two options when it comes to hen houses – purchase a pre-built one from a farm store OR build your own. The latter option is one that is more appealing simply because it’s a cheaper option and you can customize the hen house to your own needs.

Before you even start building a chicken coop you need to consider a number of different factors like the size. Obviously the size of your hen house is going to depend on the number of hens you have. If you have between 1 – 4 hens then an ideal size would be three to nine feet with a 10 foot high ceiling. You’re also want an enclosed outside area of about nine to twelve feet, unless you want to let your hens roam your backyard… not a good idea as you’ll find dropping everywhere and predators will have easy access to your hens!

Once you’ve got an idea of the size of the hen enclosure that you’d like, it’s time to go about building it. I recommend picking up a book or some other sort of guide containing all sorts of hen house designs and a step-by-step guides for building those designs. You can pick these up from the Internet for a low price. Once you have one the guide should walk you through the whole process of building a chicken house, from the materials needed to where the parts go-together.

Of course, you don’t have to take that route. If you’re quite the handyman then you’ll probably do just fine without a guide. And you can always join chicken house forums to ask for advise etc. On these discussion forums you’ll even find some hen house designs being posted by fellow members, so even if you’re clueless about all things hen house, then these forums can be quite a powerful resource.

Now I am going to save you a bunch of time and research effort by pointing you in the right direction. Just go to Building Chicken Coops Guide for some quick tips and the lowdown on building you chicken coop.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimbob_Jones

Technorati Tags: chicken coop, hen houses