In coop at night

If the ladies are going to be locked up every night in the coop do I still need hardware cloth and an apron in the ground? Can I get away with chicken wire and mesh netting at the top for birds?
Just wondering if this would be ok since I don't think coons will attack in the day?

if they are locked up tightly i'm sure they will be fine, just make sure no holes are in the ground around the coop many predators can squeeze through the tiniest of holes, chicken wire to me seems very flimsy i only use it for ventilation and windows, that are high of the ground. the rest is boarded up with plywood and such.

mamatoes said:

If the ladies are going to be locked up every night in the coop do I still need hardware cloth and an apron in the ground? Can I get away with chicken wire and mesh netting at the top for birds?
Just wondering if this would be ok since I don't think coons will attack in the day?

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Any predator hungry enough will attack during the day.
I used 2x4 welded wire with apron for my run.....but I am home all day, often in sight of run.
It's not totally secure, except against hawks, but should slow anything else down considerably.

Is this secure enough when they're locked up at night?

Again I live in a very busy downtown

That looks good. Doesn't look like chicken wire at all. Looks like the thicker welded wire. The thin "chicken" wire is not recommended at all. In urban areas what you get is neighbor dogs that can chew and push through chicken wire. An apron is a good idea. In urban areas not only dogs but things like large skunk can dig under the run wall to get at your birds. Yes, I've had a huge male skunk do just that. All an apron has to be is same strong wire fencing placed under sod horizontally from just under the run out a good 18 inches. You don't need to dig a deep trench, just put horizontal under sod or lay on ground with lawn stakes and let the grass grow through it to mow. Animals dig at fence, hit wire and move to side and try again...they don't back up much.

As I said your wire fencing looks good. I use a 14 ga. wire out here in the country as there are some determined critters like coyote that can chew through thinner wire. 19 gauge would be the thinnest I'd use in an urban setting with dogs. "Chicken" wire is really thin stuff near 30 gauge that doesn't stop predators.

mamatoes said:

Is this secure enough when they're locked up at night?

Again I live in a very busy downtown

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Wire looks good, can't tell how it's attached tho...also can't tell how latch on nest box operates, if it's raccoon proof.
Apron good idea. Do you lock pop door at night?

aart said:

Wire looks good, can't tell how it's attached tho...also can't tell how latch on nest box operates, if it's raccoon proof.
Apron good idea. Do you lock pop door at night?

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This is a picture from google I'm going to base my run off. 1/2" hardware cloth. No apron. Chickens will be locked with pop door ever night

Hardware cloth is pretty expensive. There isn't much need for it in the run. Urban areas have dogs and skunks-they dig. I suggest an apron. Little extra time to put on apron and if you use 2x4 14 gauge welded wire the cost for apron and covering run would be less.

Egghead_Jr said:

Hardware cloth is pretty expensive. There isn't much need for it in the run. Urban areas have dogs and skunks-they dig. I suggest an apron. Little extra time to put on apron and if you use 2x4 14 gauge welded wire the cost for apron and covering run would be less.

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I really wouldn't need to worry about dogs. I've never seen one off a leash and our yard is fenced.

What would you suggest then other then hardware cloth? I've read raccoons can rip apart chicken wire

Egghead_Jr said:

Hardware cloth is pretty expensive. There isn't much need for it in the run. Urban areas have dogs and skunks-they dig. I suggest an apron. Little extra time to put on apron and if you use 2x4 14 gauge welded wire the cost for apron and covering run would be less.

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Ok for the 2x4 welded wire is it ok it's not 1/2" holes? I read raccoons can stick hands through and tear chickens to shreds. What about cats. LOTS of cats in my neighborhood. The welded wire is wayyyyy cheaper