need suggestion on rabbit hutch turned chicken coop

[nchomemaker]

My dh built me a nice rabbit hutch when I tried raising rabbits for meat. As it turned out, dogs came and tore some of the wire off and several rabbits fell out and got killed. Some of the others died from fright I think.
The ones I did butcher, my husband complained he didn't like them much and he decided it wasn't worth the cost to raise them.

So, the hutch sat vacant for a year until I got new chicks and at 2 months old, put them in it.
The hutch turned chicken coop is 4 feet off the ground, it has 3 deep compartments with chicken wire on the back and front. The front is where the doors are to the 3 compartments.
My problem is that if I want to let these chickens out to free range, how to let them out and how to get them to go back in at night.
I've always had a coop level with the ground and had no problem with chickens going out and coming back in.
Any suggestions?

 

[mom2many]

How about a ramp of some type? Something as simple as a 2x4 fixed so that it rests just under the door would work. It could be taken down at night if you are worried about animals getting to the chickens. My experience with free-ranging has been that once they get used to the coop being "home" they return there at night and it's just a matter of closing the doors.

HTH,

M2M

 

[A.T.Hagan]

Most especially if you've had dog problems before take out the chicken wire and replace it with half-inch hardware cloth or the equivalent size in welded wire. Chicken wire will not stop a determined predator.

A ramp for them to get into the coop would be good. Roosts are a necessity.

If it's open they'll go back in by themselves at night, but there really should be someone there to close up the coop not long after nightfall or you'll be asking for a massacre if a predator gets inside - which they will eventually.

.....Alan.

 

[nchomemaker]

Thanks for the replies. Will try ramps. Hardware cloth is on the bottom of cages. Fronts and backs still have chicken wire.

 

[housemouse]

Childhood memories of my dad sitting up all night out near the chicken coop, trying to get a weasel that was doing nasty things....

I wish I could talk my DH into getting some chickens. He is drawing the line at dogs. ::::sigh:::: never should have married a city boy, lol!

 

[A.T.Hagan]

Thanks for the replies. Will try ramps. Hardware cloth is on the bottom of cages. Fronts and backs still have chicken wire.

Over the years I've had coons, bobcats, and dogs tear holes in chicken wire which led to the loss of dozens of animals. For me, it's only hardware cloth or better now. Something to think about.

.....Alan.

 

[nchomemaker]

Yes I know what you mean about marrying a city boy. I never thought I would get my husband to go camping, fishing, or work in the garden. But he eventually has done all of those things. He helped plant potatoes this spring unfortunately it was too cold and wet in the holes we dug and covered with mulch and they rotted so his first attempt at gardening was a bummer.
He is the one who bought me the rototiller for which I am greatful. And he bought and put up fencing to keep rabbits out of the beans.

Give your husband time and with a litle coaxing, maybe he will come around. Especially when the economy gets worse and he will see that buying groceries is getting more and more difficult.

I wish my husband was a hunter but he is just not into it and I cannot change him but I am seriously thinking about getting back into hunting myself. I did it when I was a teenager as well as fished a lot and love it.