OK, thanks for the pics, they are quite useful. My crisis of confidence is evaporating slowly, my mind focused by the arrival of half the coop yesterday (TNT delivery, not so dynamic). Here is my final plan - please comment on its viability 'cuz I'm really fed up with this now!
PLAN X = Free range in the garden, no extension to the coop's inbuilt run.
Specifically,
- Coop & run 6.5ft x 2.5 ft which will do as a holding pen when we want the chooks out of the way.
- 2x sides of the garden fence will need to be raised to 6ft (3rd side already 6ft and 4th side the house).
- 1x side will be raised with chicken wire
- 1x side will be raised using reed matting
- 6ft gate to close off side-alley
- Netting over small veg plot (raised bed)
- reinforce bottom of back fence with chicken wire to deter foxes (tack wire to outside of fence, with 1ft of the mesh pinned flat on the ground to prevent tunnelling)
- neighbours both sides have 6ft fences anyway, so any foxes would have to jump 2x 6ft fences at least to get in. Also, no need for anti-tunnelling measures on those sides.
Well? Pleeeease tell me I'm a genius :blink:
BTW, some of you have commented that the coop I bought is cheap, Chinese doo-doo which won't last 6 months. Well, now I beg to differ! Having had a look at the components I think they are fairly sturdy and certainly well made, at least as good as two, Brit-made sheds I have in the garden. Perhaps quality has improved since you bought yours?