Unexpected Progress!

Today I managed to make a lot of progress!  I got all the fencing up around the coop and also the "top secret coyote deterrent" buried.  For the coyote deterrent, I bought 8 foot by 2 1/2 foot sheets of metal lathe from Home Depot.  They, or your hardware store, will carry it where they keep the stucco materials.  I cut the sheets into 12 inch wide strips so now there were pieces of 8 foot by 1 foot pieces of the lathe.  I dug trenches along the fence line before the fencing was put up about 6 or so inches deep and about a foot wide and layed the lathe in.  What happens is that if a coyote tries to dig under the fence, the lathe will cut the coyote's paws.  It won't harm the coyote, but will smart him enough where he'll/she'll stop and probably won't try it again!  Make sure the lathe is positioned so that when they dig away from the fence , the lathe is turned so that it will cut.  You can easily figure this out by gently running your hand across the lathe both ways and you'll quickly know which is the right way.  Be careful!





Next, when looking for poultry fencing and you need a larger amount, by "stucco netting".  It IS poultry fencing, the same gauge wire, same size, but half the price.  Instead of buying 50 feet of 3 foot high "poultry fencing" for $30, I got 150 feet of 3 foot high "stucco netting" for $45.  Just make sure you get the one that is not backed with paper.

So, it's really coming together.  Now, I just have to cover the top with poultry fencing and put some shade in and make the nesting boxes and roosts inside the coop.  Oh, don't forget a little grass!  Not bad for one weekend.