Finalizing the Chicken Moat Garden

[@stephensherman4734]

I would move the gate you have dedicated to the chicken moat to the inside pallet fence directly across from your gate into the garden. This way you have the gates lined up. Then I would make both gates open into the chicken moat so when they are fully open you have the moat blocked off for moving things in and out of the garden. When you are finished and close the gates the moat becomes uninterrupted all the way around after you have removed the fencing you have there now. This eliminates the tunnel all together and the chickens can roam freely when you are not moving large items into or out of the garden.

[@sweatt4237]

exactly, the tunnel seems more like a novelty.

[@davidschmidt270]

Daaaaaaang Stephen.... that's brilliant 👏👏👏👏

[@ich2525]

You should have buried the chicken wire 30-50cm into the ground. Foxes will overcome this fence in like 10 seconds, and chickens also with time. Also foxes can bite through chicken wire if they are really hungry. Its not strong enough. You could bury an additional stronger fence that is 1m high, half a meter into the ground. That is safe for sure.

[@911life5]

In my experience predators will definitely dig through wood chips to get at chickens... growing up we had a real problem with it. We would use cider blocks around the bottom and they would still roll the blocks to get at the chickens. As an adult when I get around to having chickens I plan to bury my wire in the ground to try to prevent this. Thanks for the inspiring video!

[@judya.shroads8245]

Where's your chicken house? They need one. They're laying eggs in tunnel, because they like they're nesting boxes inside the coop. Flying hawks and owls love to eat chickens. Alot of work done. Keep it up.

[@yusukeart4170]

Awesome CHUNNEL :) It's been a while since you posted this so maybe you've made some improvements or changes, but here's some thoughts: 1) Consider building a coop for them to lay in, and to sleep in, you can close them in safe at night, worry-free. You can train them to use it, then they will automatically tuck themselves to bed in there. You can even rig up an automated door to close and open with timer. 2) Plant plants that chickens can eat long the edges of the chicken moat, free food for the chickens, and maybe even for you, or pollinators, etc. 3) If have problems with predators, it looks like you are in a rural enough place that you can get a roosters! Love your channel and your videos!

[@stevenbates7790]

Silkies are famously broody, often selected as the breed to donate eggs to hatch out. No surprise they are sitting eggs in the only place they have out of sight.

[@bencapozzi]

Bigger tunnel? You may have to reinforce the roof for driving the wheelbarrow and walking over it, but if it’s roomier, it’s less intimate for them. Maybe use corrugated plastic culvert? As for the entrance, pebbles, gravel, or large drainage rocks? Too uninviting? Overall, looks super sweet. Or go up, not down, and do a chicken ladder/bridge!

[@WelcomeBackWoods]

The bridge is a fun idea :)

[@zedman99]

Could redo the moat tunnel box with a top hinged section or more to gain access to the chickens and eggs if laid in the there. But overall nice job!

[@lordfaladar6261]

this might be a bit late but here goes. put nails on the floor of the tunnel so they will try to get through it faster and will not nest in it.

[@jecriggs]

Is there any way to put your tunnel level with the ground instead of dug in, and ramping both sides for wheelbarrow and other traffic? You will probably have less wood chips building up in the tunnel that way, plus it's easier to remove chips and chickens at ground level. ;-) Also, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but wood chips will not keep predators etc., from digging under your fence line. I have one spot on one side of the gate to my chicken run that has about 1 1/2 inches with no welded wire dug down to block it, and we have wood chips in front of the gate. Over the last few days I've been filling in a hole that something has dug into the run from there. Probably chipmunks or the like getting in to eat the chicken feed when I forget to close it up, but all I'm saying is that if a critter wants in, wood chips won't stop it.

[@WelcomeBackWoods]

Yea, nature is pretty unstoppable :/ Fortunately, the coop fully locks up at night, so even if something does get in, it still has another fence to get through. I thought about putting it level with the ground, but the bump does get pretty big; especially with a heavy wheel barrow. My new plan is to dig out the soil about 5 feet back from the tunnel. Essentially truing to bring ground level down to the tunnel. Thanks for the suggestions!

[@Papy57]

*Superbe travail, bravo!* 😉👍

[@anonymousprepper1463]

My rooster would never go through.. I dug mine and made 18" top to bottom with patio paver ramps with side walls.. But also gravelled under the bridgeand a small drainage pipe from old scrap gutter..

[@didiamund903]

New to your channel... looks good. Do you have a video on how you made your gates? I love them!!

[@kevinlejeune6117]

Line the entrance to the tennel with cement pads, keep the tunnel clean of nesting material and build them a house to roost in / lay eggs if you don't have one

[@buildingzion5656]

Wonder if a foot-square garden path block (2" tall) would work well instead of pouring cement pads.

[@annettedale13]

They need a coop

[@oftin_wong]

I used mouse and snake wire ..and put it underground and totally encapsulated the chicken coop...no mice, no rats, no snakes, no hawks, no dogs Just chickens

[@acertiger591]

City slickers doing it ✔ Lol

[@DankDadReviews]

Drive the stakes in on an angle instead of straight up and down. This way they can’t pull straight out.

[@JGLASRUD]

How about a chicken bridge instead of a tunnel? Up and over.

[@pjbenne1]

Will it be easy for predators to dig under the outside fence especially after the card board breaks down ?

[@WelcomeBackWoods]

Pamela Benne we have since added a livestock guardian dog in with the birds. No issues. Thanks for watching!

[@RedHashrateMHs]

awesome

[@anonymousprepper1463]

rake the tunnel out to keep them from wanting to nest.

[@IowaKim]

Probably won't need the cardboard. Chickens will keep all grass & weeds from growing near the bottom of the fence.

[@michaeljackson7361]

A piece of PVC to push the chicken out.

[@humblehalfacre8464]

You need a goose as a warning devise! Chickens will lay eggs in a dark cozy safe place....build them a coop for nesting and sleeping. Your off to a good start but it is not predator proof at all.