So, what exactly are the benefits of using a chicken tunnel? Are you looking for a super fun way to let your chickens free range but in a more controlled manner? The predator resistant chicken run of the Eglu Go features a protective skirt to keep your chickens safe inside The Predator Resistant Chicken Run The optional chicken run for the Eglu Go is made from strong steel weld mesh which is virtually impossible for predators to break. Boy, have we got some ideas for you! We've got one of the best predator proof chicken coop plans. Here youll learn how to raise chickens, grow your own food, and make more than you buy. They can forage for a good portion of their own food, while getting plenty of exercise and stimulation along the way. Kimberlee Bastien is a homesteader and author who traded her suburban life for a century-old farm where she and her husband challenged themselves to learn 52 homesteading skills in a year. What Can I Put Around My Chicken Coop To Keep Predators Away? Remember that when building your chunnels, dont let your chickens have access to the garden itself because they will destroy it. A friend of mine raises chicken. This allows for easy accessibility for you to clean, maintain, feed and visit with your flock easily. This will help defend against predators like chicken hawks, and it will keep wild birds from mingling with your chickens. Flimsy, poor quality products, such as hinges, are easy for larger, more agile predators to destroy and gain entry. Follow when to start seeds indoors, zone 6 tips, and a calendar for your successful indoor seed starting. Chickens love to eat insects and will reduce the number of harmful insects that invade your garden. Unroll the wire mesh so it runs the perimeter, then lift the plywood pieces, and place them on top of the wire mesh. Start kitchen gardening at home and become an expert in choosing the best crops and preparing your garden site. For more information, call Circo at 877-762-7782. LaySomeEggs.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for websites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 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. We had regular screens over the windows and they saved our hens lives because they were able to burst out through the screen to escape danger. Urine and feces smell will keep predators at bay at night as well. I grew up with backyard chickens and I can't imagine living without them. To have a predator-proof chicken tunnel, youll need wiring that is designed to protect your chickens. Thankfully, thats exactly where predators cant get them. Patricia Foremans City Chicks: Keeping Micro-flocks of Laying Hens as Garden Helpers, Compost Makers, Bio-recyclers and Local Food Suppliers is, as its title suggests, aimed at city dwellers who want to keep a few hens. This was fine when we lived in a forest, but now we live amongst grass and hayfields. https://bit.ly/2NKhV0EJoin our channel to get access to perks ~ ht. Unless you plan to use this system with meat chickens or, as in our case, your chickens are still young, you could expand upward. This shape offers little protection at the bottom against predators reaching and grabbing at the chickens. Can they kill a chicken or chicks, introduce disease, or even steal my flock? This circle will provide the space for a young tree to pass through. Put your chickens safely out to pasture with this chicken tractor DIY project. This will help predator proof for digging predators. Perhaps its overkill, but if you dont want to take any chances, you can cover the bottom of the entire chicken run with hardware cloth. You can have signs of predators all around you but none will dare come near the coop. 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. The area just in front of the bottom of your fence lines is wasted space. 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. A solid floor will keep any burrowing invaders like rats or raccoons from getting in. , Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures. How do you make chicken tunnels? This new and improved incarnation of the portable chicken coop is designed for three to four chickens, and anybody can build it. Especially in conjunction with hardware cloth, this can be an effective approach. I really recommend you replace any chicken wire with 1/4 inch hardware cloth (Amazon) because it really works to keep all sorts of predators out of the chicken coop. Having only one method of keeping predators away from your chicken coop is not ideal. To make a secure chunnel, youll start with a 4-foot-wide roll of 16-gauge, galvanized wire mesh. 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? I don't have a greenhouse, so my seedlings tended to get leggy on my windowsills. Canadian Subscribers International Subscribers, Canadian subscriptions: 1 year (includes postage & GST). Do use 1/2 inch hardware cloth to secure openings in your coop. Although this design is predator-proof, it's not permanent. Homemade biodiesel helps you speed past the gas station toward fuel independence. Growers Supply also offers 4-by-8-foot sheets of 8-millimeter material, which is slightly less flexible. Once a predator attacks, it will return. This will prevent raccoons from lifting the top. Try motion activated lights to spook predators away. The hoop coop structures have the option of being a dual purpose building - livestock and vegetable production. JavaScript is disabled. It really depends on what you're going for. This is actually the first time I have seen such an idea. I know I told you above to make sure your chickens had cover to run to in the event an aerial predator like a hawk or owl is scanning the ground for lunch. 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. We designed the first portable chicken coop using green pipes with the idea that urban and suburban folks may want to make their coop as unobtrusive and attractive as possible. An electric training collar can be an invaluable tool if your dog is bred to go after chickens (like a retriever). Raccoons are so smart that they can open any lock that a 2 year old child can. Take a look at these considerations for building a sauna for your own home including heaters, location, size, and interior. In just one day, the young chickens in this chicken tunnel cleared the path to bare dirt. The chicken moat provides a clean edge around the garden, keeping down the migration of unwanted grasses, weeds and insects into our plot. LaySomeEggs.com may contain links to affiliate websites, and I receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. If you have cats, elevate your coop floor about a foot off the ground. Many chicken keepers have dirt floors in their chicken coops, which we cant recommend. Your best defense against predators is having a fox and badger proof chicken coop. There will be less bullying and picking at each other since the tunnels provide room to roam and spread out. All were shrink-wrapped. Some predators, like fisher cats, raccoons and snakes, can easily access your chickens through the larger links in the wiring. Do's for Protecting Chickens from Predators. With the current shortage of serfs, the practice has fallen out of favor. This added security will prevent raccoons from ripping the staples out. Make sure even the smallest of holes are secured. One mistake beginner chicken keepers do all the time is using chicken wire around their chicken coop and run. Rot creates weak areas in the coop's infrastructure. Photo by Ben Burghart. Netting should never be used because it offers no protection. Wherever you would use chicken wire, such as window areas for ventilation, around the bottom, or to make the run, use hardware cloth instead. . Garden pests are stopped by the chicken buffer on their way to destroy your fresh veggies. Canadian Subscribers International Subscribers, Canadian subscriptions: 1 year (includes postage & GST). Keeping chickens is a fun and exciting hobby. This portable predator proof chicken coop DIY is low-cost and easy to make for just about anyone. For areas where you would like to put chickens wire use 1/2 galvanized hardware cloth instead. 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. Use Two Step Locks. 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. When considering design, one of the most important things that you want to think about is how to predator proof the run. Hardware cloth (the finer mesh the better) is more expensive but much more of a deterrent. The Ultimate Guide to Raising Chickens for Eggs. Predator proofing can't be overdone, as many of us have learned the very hard way. The easiest way to do it is to let it run along the fence, starting from the coop. 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. Because your chickens have the area to roam within the tunnels, they are not bunched together, where disease loves to thrive. DIY Home Biodiesel Production: Make Your Own Fuel. I didnt know they were a good covering for the outside run area. Watch Now: How to Truss a chicken Article Sources Above Ground Chicken Tunnels Fencing Then, screw the 1-by-3 boards into the end caps. But one evening we had a raccoon break into our first chicken coop at dusk. I would not use a heat lamp if you can help it, they're incredibly dangerous. 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. An electric training collar can be an invaluable tool if your dog is bred to go after chickens (like a retriever). 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. Very similar to photo above, but not as . You are using an out of date browser. If you fail to collect eggs every day, they are sitting in there like little orbs of bait, attracting all kinds of predators. Build a tunnel under every gateway out of culvert or concrete block so the hens can easily move between all sections of the moat. Placing a predator apron is much easier than the old method of digging a trench 12 inches deep all the way around the perimeter of your chicken coop and burying some fencing into the ground. 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. Free Chicken Coop Plans is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. 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. Do a thorough site inspection and plenty of pencil-and-paper planning first. A clean coop will help discourage rodents and other pests from taking up residence. A removable panel of 2-by-4-inch welded wire mesh covers the bottom, which gives the chickens room to scratch but is easy to take off if you wish to set the coop on a garden bed and let the chickens till in their manure. STARTER COOPS: FOR YOUR CHICKENS' FIRST HOME, CHICKEN COOPS: 45 BUILDING PLANS FOR HOUSING YOUR FLOCK. Just like the chunnel, this system isnt permanent. For tips and ideas on building a chicken run, see our guide here. At this point, you really dont have a choice but to find a way to contain your wayward flock. In 2007, Long presented another coop idea in Portable Chicken Mini-Coop Plan. With a predator-proof chicken coop, hardware cloth (Amazon), a predator apron, deterrent spikes (Amazon), and predator deterrent lights (Amazon), I havent lost a chicken to predators in over 20 years! Center it over the ends, and affix it to the top of each end cap with a large washer and a screw. Make sure to pay close attention to the corners where you attach the seams of the fencing material together. 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. Most people have some form of aerial predators. The area just in front of the bottom of your fence lines is wasted space. For the most protection (vs things short of a bear) hardware cloth on any opening larger than 1/2". 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. It is best to be proactive. However, some dogs will go after chickens themselves, so you need to train them not to chase and play with them. (Two years ago, when our neighbors garden was nearly devastated by grasshoppers, our hens gorged themselves on the invading horde and saved our plot.) It has been a challenge. Robert and Hannah Litts A Chicken in Every Yard: The Urban Farm Stores Guide to Chicken Keeping starts with a variety of reasons to keep chickens. Really, it just depends on how severe of a predator problem youre dealing with. If budget is an issue and you're mainly concerned about raccoons reaching in, then hardware cloth up the bottom few feet of the run only. Chickeneers put their thinking caps on and come up with some unique ways to incorporate chunnels in a backyard, around a garden, up and over existing chunnels, and even underground passes. Unfortunately most people think about predator proofing after they lose a flock member or two. If you open windows to provide ventilation for your coop, make sure you protect them with scraps of leftover hardware cloth or wire mesh. Copyright Backyard Chicken Project | Trellis Framework by Mediavine, learn what the predators are in your area and tailor your coop to meet your needs. However, the coop requires a fair amount of carpentry skills to build, and the cost of the materials and the required tools are beyond some folks budgets. Lay down the hardware cloth and cover it with a layer of topsoil. What to Do with Chickens During a Tornado or Hurricane. When I think about predators, I think about how outside critters can do harm to my flock. 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. How to keep sparrows/wild birds out of run!? It seems that everything wants to eat chickens: neighborhood dogs, raccoons, foxes, weasels, and even chicken hawks. It sits neatly on a 4-by-10-foot raised garden bed, with a little room to spare so the chickens wont throw all the dirt out of the bed. Celebrate your rural roots this holiday season by making a homemade gingerbread barn, and start a new holiday tradition with your family. I think youre right. Keep in mind that with this design, there isnt a space for your chickens to roost. Plus, nothing can beat those farm-fresh eggs! I believe that simple living leads to a better life. Having areas to explore provides stimulation, and yes, chickens can become bored with the same old run. This material is strong and flexible, simple to work with, and is easily cut with an X-Acto or utility knife. Electric fencing around the coop and run helps keep many land predators out too. DIY can provide great insulation savings. Robin Matheris a senior associate editor at MOTHER EARTH NEWSand the author of The Feast Nearby, a collection of essays and recipes from her year of eating locally on $40 a week. Assisted hatch. Although a bit more expensive, it will last longer and be more resistant to rot and deterioration in the elements. It can be made from wood and shingles, corrugated metal, or even plastic sheeting used in greenhouses. Our expert outlines processing used cooking oil in a small DIY plant. For example the runs are made from extra heavy duty steel weld mesh and have anti tunnel . When you build a chicken coop, make sure to provide them with indoor roosts. Not to mention, keeping food put away will keep the rats out of your chicken coop. About Us | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Cookie Policy / GDPR. Run and garden are separated by about 20 feet and it runs along fence line behind shed. 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. Predators seek out chickens in a number of ways. It's a great idea for your coop to have windows because in the winter the chickens will spend most of their time in there, the light and view of the outdoors will help a lot. that we have seen! Another solution you could try, if all else fails, is to trap your predators. 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. If youre building a predator-proof chicken coop, youre not going to want any easy access from above or below. Chicken feathers insulated them from the shock. Install a predator apron around your chicken coop to deter burrowing and digging predators. Lauren Arcuri Ware is an expert in homesteading, including raising chickens for eggs and meat, keeping bees, growing fruits and vegetables, and preserving. Some predators seek out chickens from the air and others hunt on the surface. What is the material covering the ground in your outside run? I installed 4 of these little gadgets around my chicken coop, facing out in all four directions. Readers, this is the second of 12 basic homestead skills well be presenting throughout the year from Kimberlee Bastiens new book, 52 Homestead Skills. for your chicken tunnel. If you use this system in early spring, your chickens will also take care of any overwintering pests. You can get as creative as you want in building a chunnel. Rustic Gingerbread Barn Template and Recipe. The Chicken Super-Highway: Amazing Chicken Tunnels. It will also sit on a 4-by-10-foot raised garden bed. Do you have a plan to keep your flock safe during a storm? 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. Chickens naturally roost in trees for protection. ), FREE 812 Chicken Coop Plan (PDF) For 24 to 32 Chickens (or more), Chicken Coop Roof Material Which Types Are Best And Why, Dont Poison Your Flock What Can Chickens EatAnd Not Eat. If a predator breaches coop security at night, we have failed our pets." Greedy little pigs, thats not very likely to happen. Some predators dig, while others burrow. The rectangular coop kit is less expensive because it doesn't use pre-bent hoops, and because the white pipe is less costly. DIY Home Biodiesel Production: Make Your Own Fuel. Some people have commented they thought theyd have to choose between their chickens or their garden but this solution accommodates both! Buy six-foot fencing (in quantity to save money) of a heavier, more durable gauge than regular chicken wire. To see how you can quickly build a predator apron, watch the video below (or keep reading). But not only that, chicken wire is only designed to keep chickens in not predators out. I swear by having a livestock guardian dog. Both coops have handles for easy moving. Be extra careful when you cut the two full 18-inch circles because youll use those pieces as lids. They love to explore, scratch in the grass and hide under large plantings for afternoon naps. Erect your outer fence first, bracing it securely with diagonal posts at all corners and ends. to incorporate chunnels in a backyard, around a garden, up and over existing chunnels, and even underground passes. You have even shown different shapes of this. Once you are done, you can sit back and enjoy the show. You have to evaluate your biggest predator risks to determine which is best for your situation. Heres how to keep your hens safe. 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. To create the roof of the movable coop, lay two sheets of plywood side-by-side to create an 8-foot square. They say, An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and I think this is definitely one area where you dont want to skimp! are hens less friendly when they have a rooster? As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Photo by Kimberlee Bastien. Do you mean the run? Just as the bridge for your chicken tunnel system, the. Adding a roof the run has many benefits. I will definitely send this post to him. Id like to say that quarter inch hardware cloth is the best choice. Nor is a frame constructed from materials that will collapse or bend easily. Created after Maxwell and Long conferred with poultry experts, the coop is a gorgeous piece of work (read more about it in MOTHERs Mini-Coop) meant to last for years. 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. is yet another ingenious integration of chicken tunneling. This helps them to fuel their natural instincts. With the shorter 1-by-3 boards facing in, drape the wire mesh over the ends. Our expert outlines processing used cooking oil in a small DIY plant. MOTHER EARTH NEWS 52 Homestead Skills follows homesteader Kimberlee Bastien, as she learns one homesteading skill per week over the course of an entire year. It's sturdy and not easily ripped open, unlike chicken wire which is not predator-proof and better left for the craft cabinet. It, too, is so light that anyone can move it easily, and is big enough for four birds. Scribe the other two circles approximately 24 inches from and at 90 degrees to the center of the long edge of each 8-foot semicircle piece. to reduce garden pests and insects. Works like a charm! To have a predator-proof chicken tunnel, you'll need wiring that is designed to protect your chickens. Since you must have a predator problem on hand, here are additional tips that might help you out. Currently, she is a professor of Horticulture, an Education Specialist, and pest specialist. Keep posting like this. This will allow the lids to rest flush with the plywood. Chicken tunnels for the garden or outdoor area have become a trend among chickeneers, especially in urban settings. His discussion of worm composting bins beneath the aisles in his hoophouses (which serve as winter chicken houses) is also fascinating. So make 100% sure that the seams are securely attached. Mark one circle in the middle, overlapping the two plywood pieces. Try adding branches, cut logs, even old ladders for climbing. It can take only one predator to completely wipe out your entire flock in a night. Now, youll need to make the ends of the chicken tunnel out of plywood pieces, which will help shape and reinforce the run. Homemade biodiesel helps you speed past the gas station toward fuel independence. Just in case a predator like birds of prey come sailing overhead. Well, the simplest way is using one of the four shapes to form the framework. Bury hardware cloth 12 inches down all around the coop to protect from rodents and other burrowing animals. First and foremost, your chickens will be happy little birds. 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! But Anatolian Shepherds, Maremmas, and Akbash dogs are also breeds you can consider that have excellent guarding instincts. To support the lids, add two small lips parallel to each other on both sides (see photo, below). The book then takes the reader through every step of keeping backyard birds, from choosing a breed to using the eggs, as well as some philosophical asides, such as, Should I take a $5 chicken to the vet? The books style is easy and comfortable, with lots of humor tucked in. We have a post on cold-hardy chicken breeds here to help you out: https://backyardchickenproject.com/cold-hardy-chicken-breeds/. Consider diggers. Bastiens flock made short work of the tall grass around this fruit tree. 3 Methods for Heating Greenhouses for Free. Keep your feed under lock and key! Having the chicken tunnel fence act as the third support wall of the tunnel, you spend less money on materials. (Just make sure your predator you trap isnt a skunk! Predators that dig, like neighborhood dogs, foxes, and coyotes can enter the hen house in just a few hours if the floor isnt protected. Make sure you check your state and local regulations to learn the best way to manage the predators you capture. At some point, youre guaranteed to accidentally step in it right before you hop in your car or truck and wonder, What the heck is that nasty smell?. The double line of defense discourages most possums, ground hogs and rabbits from trying to harvest free vegetables. The company offers covers alone ($12 each), nest boxes with pail and cover ($20) and other items through various retailers listed on its website. Youll begin by cutting 1 1/2 inches off the ends of two of the 1-by-3 boards. 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. Today we are showing you a safe way to sorta free range your chickens.Hope you enjoy!! Then place your hardware along the established route using . All were shrink-wrapped. You can use whatever fasteners you have available just make sure you use them. It will take them more time to chew through a solid floor. You dont have to step over tunneling with this subterranean corridor by providing your chickens an underground connector! Allows the chickens the ability to outside for extended periods of time during periods or rain and snow. "Nothing should be able to get into a properly constructed coop," she said. But maybe you tried something new that wasnt their favorite. This allows the chickens a small protected area to eat and drink, even in the early morning or the evening. A simple way to accomplish this is to cut a piece of string 4 feet long, use it to create the curve, then trace and cut it out. Over the years, MOTHER EARTH NEWS has offered several DIY chicken coop plans, particularly designs for portable chicken coops. When you build your chicken coop, be sure that you keep it elevated off the ground. Instead of walking over and around your chickens tunnels around the yard, why not build up and construct an elevated pass over or bridge? Photo by Kimberlee Bastien. It is important that every chicken has enough space to feel like they can move around. Raising the chicken coop off the ground by 1 foot or more creates an obstacle for small predators to overcome. We invite you to join Kimberlee and her family on their homesteading journey. Beyond the usual chicken husbandry and health information, the book also includes great tips on how to put your flock to work to build soil fertility, plus information on how to draft and pass local laws to permit laying hens. Chickens love to be outside. Also. 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. See, you can develop creative ways to enhance your chickens environment while having fun doing it. Of course, if youd like to use your own materials, you can see detailed diagrams on Circos website. Fowl Stuff is a Michigan company that has designed an injection-molded cover that adapts 3- and 5-gallon pails for use as nesting boxes. Each coop needs about 31 linear feet of 36-inch-wide, 1-by-2-inch welded wire mesh to cover the sides and top of the coop, as well as a 10-foot piece of 48-inch-wide, 2-by-4-inch welded wire mesh for the bottom.