Quick CHICKEN COOP Emergency plans Any one?

[Poultryprincess]

Hi Y'all,

I find myself rushing to move into my new place, before I'm ready
I have 5 silkie hens & NO coop.
there is space in the garage to build a temporary coop
It has a concrete floor & is close to the house,
BUT there are Rats!
I have been Feeding them the necessary green blocks.
4 so far, but have seen others "frolicking" in the yard

Does Anyone have Fast / Easy coop ideas?
I do have 2 x 4 panels with mesh, but a rat can fit thru
I was thinking of adding 1/2 inch mesh over the existing panels.
ANY HELP is appreciated

[JimW]

I use 4 foot x 8 foot Hoop Houses...

Base made from 2x6 lumber and then staple hardware cloth to the bottom, so nothing can dig under and get into the house.

I then bend 1/2" PVC electrical conduit to form the hoops, then cover with mesh, I use 1x1 inch welded wire. I use plastic zip ties to attach the wire to the conduit.

I use plywood and mesh on the ends and build a door on one end and nest boxes on the other end. I cover half the structure with clear vapour barrier plastic.

I could only find 1 crappy photo from last winter.

[Poultryprincess]

interesting....what is the finished size? How many birds live in there? How long did it take to put this together? Thanx for sharing!!!

[JimW]

The finished size is 4 feet by 8 feet, so inside about 30 square feet, and about 4 feet tall. I usually keep about 5 birds in them. Usually takes me less than a day to build.

[Shnookie]

Be sure to cover the top. All rodents can climb on wire.

[kenya]

Get a couple cats, young ones so they get used to the chickens and close them up in the garage with the rats. I know this won't be popular with some people but I had a rat problem that poison did not help. After the cats came, 6 months later no rats.

[Killerbunny]

DO you have a spare bathroom?? LOL!

[ross]

Why you movin in KB lol

[Killerbunny]

Bathrooms are awesome for quarantine, chicks, poorly chickens etc. I always thought that's what the spare bathroom was for! It's certainly what ours has been used for.

[Happy]

I admit I have had several ill birds in my basement shower stall lol.