Yes to also enclosing the top with welded wire, as well as below their scratch gravel area- chickens need to eat small rocks to digest grain. It isn't pretty once a predator gets inside....bit traumatic as they are pets raised from chicks usually.
That being said, it is worth the hassle: the eggs are amazing and much better than store bought.
I made laying boxes from tilted 5 gal buckets with hole in bottom so eggs would just drop on incline and roll down gently to catch basin. There was outside access door to get eggs without even going in poop coop. Setup a nipple-drip water system- bowls don't work as they step in them and poop everywhere: including water bowl. Dust for chicken lice- keep wild birds away.
Portable Chicken Coop or Tractor is a thing- coop is on wheels so move around yard to fertilize. They love old fruit, cantalope skins, watermelon skins, etc- garbage disposal units. Get eggs out so they don't eat them and find out how tasty they are- stupid birds.
That being said, it is worth the hassle: the eggs are amazing and much better than store bought.
I made laying boxes from tilted 5 gal buckets with hole in bottom so eggs would just drop on incline and roll down gently to catch basin. There was outside access door to get eggs without even going in poop coop. Setup a nipple-drip water system- bowls don't work as they step in them and poop everywhere: including water bowl. Dust for chicken lice- keep wild birds away.
Portable Chicken Coop or Tractor is a thing- coop is on wheels so move around yard to fertilize. They love old fruit, cantalope skins, watermelon skins, etc- garbage disposal units. Get eggs out so they don't eat them and find out how tasty they are- stupid birds.
