Eglu Cube Coop For Sale

[RobJo]

Hi, I am very new to chicken keeping and I have just finished setting up my coop and area, I have basically built a prepacked coop and run to house four chicks, I am collecting my birds tomorrow but before then I have been reading the forums and I am slightly worried about the dreaded fox and how clever they are, my coop has bolts on the doors but I have also added latch and pad locks today, I will try and attach a picture but my Q is basically should I leave my chicks in the run whilst Im not at home or should I get them back into their coop and if the picture works is the gap under the coop large enough for a fox to investigate (4") and should I secure my run to the ground (its fastened to the coop already).

Sorry for all the Q's but my family is really looking forward to the fun ahead and I want to make the coop and run as secure as possible.

 

Sorry dont know how to add pics

[chicken bark]

I believe a fox can get through a gap as wide as the palm of your hand.

 

You'll need to make sure the chicks are in a run that is secure - you could add an anti dig mesh skirt around the edge of it, or have it on slabs?

 

The coop should only be used as a place for hens to sleep and lay eggs. The rest of the time they need to be in the run. Also shelter should be provided for the chickens other than the house, so some cover on a part of the run would be good.

 

Hope that makes sense - looking forward to the pictures when you work out how to add them (there is a section about it somewhere on this forum).

 

Here it is http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=21972

[Lavenders_Blue]

You will need to leave your chooks in the run whilst you are out (unless it is night time of course!). They will go stir crazy just locked in the coop and you may well be setting yourself up for bullying problems if you do this.

 

It's difficult to advise on your setup without seeing a picture, but securing your run to the ground is one option. Another option is to site your coop and run on slabs so that the fox is not physically able to dig in. If you choose this option you will need to put something on the floor of the run (e.g. woodchips) so that your hens have something to scratch about in as they won't be very happy just on slabs.

 

If you are able to post us a pic of your coop and run we might be able to make some suggestions for you

 

It's good you're being vigilant about foxes.

[CallyChook]

welcome to the forum

 

we're a diverse group, or so I've found, all with a varied set of opinions, but I guess here's my two penneth's worth!!

 

for info on adding pics try this forum viewtopic.php?f=5&t=48619

 

i guess photos are needed to really see about the fox issue, I live in a rural area and as well as a larger shed with 13 birds, no enclosed run (just a garden) have a coop which fits 4 large birds with an integral run alongside and underneath it - not big enough for four large birds for any length of time, so my birds free range all day even when I'm not around. here's my coop, it just sits on my lawn and is not fixed down although it is darned heavy! (and my then 2 yr old son)

 

A determined fox will get into almost everything - there are a lot of tales on the forum if you get time to browse, where people have had electric fences and the fox has gotten in on the one-in-a-million day when the power's been out, or knawed through "un-knawable" extra thick wire fencing.

 

It's entirely up to you how you protect your hens... I'm one of the "a shorter free ranging life is better than a long confined one" crew, but that's not to say I'm right, it's just my opinion. I would expect that your birds will be ok in the run during the days and better off in there than locked into their coop - if you keep hens locked in the coop, which is relatively shaded/dark, you risk them going off laying and also provide more time for pests to infest the girls in warm close confinement.

[RobJo]

Thanks for the advice hope this picture now works

 

[Christian]

I would put that coop on slabs, or at least put slabs around the outside wall of the run, just to be safe.

[CallyChook]

I would put that coop on slabs, or at least put slabs around the outside wall of the run, just to be safe.

 

sounds like a plan

[Olly]

Looks like a lovely run! I'm assuming that where the coop joins the run, that 4" space underneath it is filled with mesh? If not I would close that up. I agree with Christian that siting it on slabs (just the perimeter, not the whole area) will keep the fox from digging underneath.

[frizz]

Hi, I have two coops the same as callychooks and I know we have had a fox in the garden because of the droppings. both the houses stayed secure and no signs of an attempted break in by the fox. One of the houses is situated on slabs and the other on a part of the garden that we removed the grass and put wood chip on so the ground is solid underneath. They seem to be safe and secure. I am sure you will be okay as long as the ground is not soft around the run area. Hope this is reassuring.

[RobJo]

Thanks again everyone, I am going to flag round the sides tomorrow, I will post new pics when done, I have for tonight dug in two 4"x3"x 7' lengths of wood and also secured with tent pegs around the run, I have placed flag stone under the coop to block off the gap! I have chickens in the coop as from today but they are not out in the run as they are settling in! just fingers crossed no visitors until im confident with the paving. I have also placed an extra layer of chicken wire on the roof of the run and pad locked each gate! sorry if this seems over the top but my 4 children have fallen for the chicks already!!

[RobJo]

Flags around two sides and a big sleeper on the otherside where flagging was not an option with width available but the sleeper also has been pegged in with extra large camping pegs and its very heavy!!

 

[Lavenders_Blue]

Great! Looks very secure

[Old Speckled Hen]

I would flag all of it, ie include under the run. If you do that you can bed them down on shavings or Aubiose/Hemcore which will stop the run turning into a mushy smelly swamp.

Oh, and add a clear tarp(lets the light in) over the roof to keep everything snug and dry.

I have a cube run and my tarp goes from the floor on one side, over the top and down the other side, leaving only the door free. No rain gets in

[chicken bark]

I think they'll be pretty secure in there Robjo. Good job.

 

The rest you'll work out what's best for you over time.