chicken coop made against fence

[babychickens321]

ive been posting a bit much lately but this is the last post (I think)


We're constructing a new chicken coop for our chickens seeing as they need a predator proof one and one big enough for them. However, my family said that we don't need more wood than the two wooden doors. I asked them why because two wooden doors wont be enough and they were like because our garden fence can be used as the back bit of the coop
I think that that's a bad idea, because it will be open on one side, and even though the fence will be covering it, there will be at least a little bit of a gap on the sides which will let wind through also a fox could push the coop over and there'll be an exposed side of chickens
it seems like a very bad idea

I just drew on top of a garden picture from google so not my garden
if there's no wood, could I instead put mesh wire there so its still covered??

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

You could put hardware cloth which is good for keeping out most things. But bedding will most likely get between the wire and the fence and you'll never be able to get it out. If rats can fit back there they might use it to pad their nasty little nests. I learned that the hard way when my coop (with walls and hardware cloth run underneath) was against the fence. We moved it so the cat can fit back there to hunt and it can be cleaned

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Also that gap won't really ventilate well. I'd move it out if it were mine personally

 

[babychickens321]

You could put hardware cloth which is good for keeping out most things. But bedding will most likely get between the wire and the fence and you'll never be able to get it out. If rats can fit back there they might use it to pad their nasty little nests. I learned that the hard way when my coop (with walls and hardware cloth run underneath) was against the fence. We moved it so the cat can fit back there to hunt and it can be cleaned

Ah, thanks for the reply. not the ratsss!! had one give birth behind our conservatory and every morning it would scurry out with its babies following it. put some rat poison out, one died but a fat one replaced it, caught it stealing bird food today
Wont it still be cold for them because it will be very difficult to get the coop to be built right next to the fence. as in, there will always be at least a small teeny gap between the coop and fence so wont it be drafty in there

 

[babychickens321]

Also that gap won't really ventilate well. I'd move it out if it were mine personally

the gap's not for ventilation
I meant to say, that for example if your bed is against a wall, there's always a slight gap between the wall and bed. so with the gap between the fence and coop, wont it be cold. also, couldn't a fox just like sneak to the back of the coop by poking around the back and just snap the side of the coop off?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

the gap's not for ventilation
I meant to say, that for example if your bed is against a wall, there's always a slight gap between the wall and bed. so with the gap between the fence and coop, wont it be cold. also, couldn't a fox just like sneak to the back of the coop by poking around the back and just snap the side of the coop off?

Oh haha when you said for wind I thought you meant ventilation I don't know much about foxes but if a fox can knock over your chicken coop you need a stronger one lol. Raccoons are the main culprits I worry about where I live and they will open latches and try to tear into things. Chickens need ventilation but not drafts there are lots of good articles on here about chicken coops-i suggest you read some of those for better advice because its hard for me to picture what you have in mind even with the drawing. But plenty of coops are nowhere near fences (mine is a good four feet from one) and nothing has ever pushed it over or snapped a side off.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Other considerations:
- Is your household the sole owner of the fence or is it shared with neighbors? If it's a shared fence you may not be able to build something attached to it.
- Sort of related: in many areas, there's a set back required on animal housing and/or auxiliary buildings. Is this fence a property line fence, or no?
- If the above two things aren't an issue, how easy is it for you to maintain the other side of the fence? The main issue with having a coop up against any existing wall or structure is it may make maintenance of both coop and wall difficult.

 

[mowin]

This ^.
Even if it was my fence, I wouldn't want my coop attached to it. Fences are not cheap. Not sure how you would flash the transition from fence to roof of the coop to keep it waterproof without some sort of coating that wouldn't look good at all. I'd be worried about rot in that section of the fence. Also, if you were to remove the coop at a later date, that spot would weather much different from the rest of the fence, making it look odd.

 

[babychickens321]

Other considerations:
- Is your household the sole owner of the fence or is it shared with neighbors? If it's a shared fence you may not be able to build something attached to it.
- Sort of related: in many areas, there's a set back required on animal housing and/or auxiliary buildings. Is this fence a property line fence, or no?
- If the above two things aren't an issue, how easy is it for you to maintain the other side of the fence? The main issue with having a coop up against any existing wall or structure is it may make maintenance of both coop and wall difficult.

in our garden we have two fences and one is ours and the other is owned by my neighbours. im not sure what a property line is, we just own the fence and can change it paint it and do anythign with it. the other side of the fence would be easy to maintain I think. what problems could be there with maintaining the other side?

 

[aart]

the other side of the fence would be easy to maintain I think. what problems could be there with maintaining the other side?

Maintenance needs to be accessible on both sides of the fence.

..and you(or your parents) had best be sure about setbacks for buildings.