What makes a coop "Fort Knox" predator proof?

[Mimi13]

Yeah, it makes sense if you already had it. Maybe if I keep my larger-holed fencing, and instead of layering denser HC on top of it, I get an electric fence instead? The cost might end up about the same... But will the electric fence be effective against all the critters I'm trying to protect from? I'm guessing they have to make contact with the wire(s) for it to work... What if they don't? Like if something jumps up to climb the fence and doesn't touch the wires...

Hmmm, I ran three wires at different heights. At the time my possible target predators would have been cats and dogs (medium and large), so I ran the wires at the levels of their noses.

I am not familiar with how raccoons, opossums and/or fishers act when approaching a fence. I don’t know if they jump or not so I really don’t know.

 

[K0k0shka]

I’m not worried about cats and dogs, or even raccoons and other larger things, since the 2”x2” panels I have will definitely stop those. I’m worried about fishers and other such sneaky things that squeeze themselves through small holes... So if the electric fence is a question mark when it comes to fishers, then I don’t think it’s worth the risk at that price....

I compared Amazon and Home Depot and they’re about the same. Walmart I don’t know and don’t care. Walmart and I are not friends.

 

[cavemanrich]

Great job. I love hardware wire and feel if you are going to have birds invest in the coop before you do it as opposed to constantly trying to fix a problem after the fact. Two things I did was at the bottom of the run I put wire flat on the ground and out about 18" tight and on top of the grass. (the grass grows through it fairly fast)It also runs up the wall of the run. So in other words it makes and L shape. This keeps the diggers out because they are not smart enough to dig further back from the fencing. I also invested in an electric door that closes at night and opens in the morning on a timer. This keeps me from the mistake of forgetting to put the ladies in at night and makes it possible for me to not be home every evening to lock them up. It is the same size (or slightly larger) than the chicken access door, slides slightly past the door sill to prevent raccoon hands from getting under and lifting it, and slides up and down in metal channels located on the inside and both sides of the door. It is made from one of those white plastic cutting boards you use in your kitchen that has a hand hole in the top and works like a charm. No swelling of wood to make it stick. The hand hole is where the cable fastens that lifts and lowers the door. All windows are covered with hardware wire with a small hole for the push out handle that opens the windows. Only thing you need to remember is to adjust your timer according to the day length so your girls don't get locked out or in. I usually give them 20-30 minutes leeway to get in and out. So if it gets dark at 5pm set the timer to close at 5:30 and open 30 min after it gets light. To find the mechanism for the automatic door just google it. It's a little spendy (about $100 when I bought it) but worth it's weight in gold.

I looked at your profile, and see only one posting.... that automatically tells me to send you a WELCOME
Then I see you have been a READER, not a WRITER for a long time. Many peeps are like yourself here. Learn all you need by reading the GREAT INFO here on BYC,
WELL,,,,,,,, I'm still sending you this,,
Better late than never

 

[Golden Chicken Master]

That is amazing!!!!!! I absolutely love it. Funny I have created my chicken run and coop from some old materials and my main predator is my dogs... I raise Goldens and goldendoodles- my goldens think chickens are edible... but I am actually creating new dog rooms for the gals now and making a very similar structure! Yours is far more professional but same idea- great animal minds!

Hi everyone!

Reading here, I see we all have predator issues, which vary greatly depending on where we live. I'm in Southeast MI(60 miles N of Detroit) in a rural area. Our main predators are fox, coyote, hawks, owls, opossum, and skunks, and the ever popular raccoon. Snakes are generally not an issue, although we do have garter snakes(those are the only ones I've ever seen.)

This is my first year having chickens and I have built my coop as close to predator proof as I believe it can be, and was wondering what everyone else considers to be "Fort Knox" safe.

I covered the eaves with 1/4" hardware cloth attached with screws and fender washers.
The windows and one pop door(that isn't used) are also covered on the inside in the same manner.
The coop is 4x8, 2 1/2' off the ground, so it would be hard for anything to get in from underneath the coop.
The run surrounds 3 sides of the coop, total dimensions are 16'x16' with 4' of one end comprised of the coop itself. This is completely covered in 1/2" hardware cloth again attached with screws and fender washers.
The top of the run is 2x4's attached to the coop and top edge of the run walls with joist hangers screwed in, and completely covered in 1/2" hardware cloth as well.
There are no openings in the hardware cloth larger than 1/2" anywhere.
Not done yet , but to be finished before the weather gets cold is a 2' skirt of 1/2" hardware cloth attached along the bottom 2x4 of the run walls again with screws and fender washers to prevent diggers from getting in.
So far, so good.

My weak points, that I can see are the window sash locks on the back doors. IF anything got in they could easily undo them. My plan to remedy this is to attach something to the door handles that will prevent them from opening even if the sash locks are undone. Like a chain through them with a lock or something
There is space around the gate to the run, that the hardware cloth extends over an opening greater than 1/2" to allow the door to swing in all weather. This is mainly along the latch side. My plan to counter this is to screw a 3-4" strip of plywood the length of the sash side, on the outside that will act as a "stop" and also cover the gap. Sorry I don't have a picture of the gate.

Here are a few pics to illustrate.

Now, please share what you have done to build "Fort Knox" and also suggest what you would do differently if you were me( or other posters as the case may be.) Maybe we can all get some tips and tricks that will help us keep our cheeps safe.

 

[Golden Chicken Master]

@zndzant I have the daisy coop also but I paid to have it built. Fortunately money isn't an issue for buying the hardware cloth. Just procrastination. But I know if something happens I will be devastated.

I like that yours only has one nesting box. We have both sides with the boxes and they NEVER lay in one side.

I agree on the insulation. We will put some on the floor and cover it with more flooring and the bedding that we use.

What do you use for roosting poles? We use a wide dowel but thinking of changing to 2×2 board.

I use a furring strip for my perches, they stand well on them and sleep up there too... Attaching some photos -

 

[cavemanrich]

I did almost everything right but I used chicken wire... Oops. Chooks have only been out there for less than a week so too soon to tell how it will end up but my big upgrade is going to be moving out large dog out to the coop. In the front if the run is going to be a large dog house and the view from his bed will be the chicken coop. Hopefully that will scare off most predators.

What predators are in your area??? Don't know your location, so not sure what to protect from. If you do lock up the coop pop door for the night,,,, your chickens would be relatively safe from nighttime predators.
The overhead chicken wire will keep flying daytime raptors out.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and

 

[cavemanrich]

It is the raccoons that would be the most likely to chew thru chicken wire. Opossums, and skunks would be held back. If you have coyotes or fox, they are also potentially able to get thru. Fox would usually dig under. Coyotes would have to be desperately hungry to try and eat thru chicken wire.
Check and see how things work for you. If you do see predator attempts, you may consider a HOT WIRE. It is fantastic in teaching predators to stay away. Raccoons do learn very well. Likely to stay away after a taste of Jules. Many peeps bait their hotwire, for best results.

 

[Krugerrand]

It looks great! Did you have a patter or did you just wing it? LOL
I am looking for a pattern and this might work well for us.

It looks great! Did you have a patter or did you just wing it? LOL
I am looking for a pattern and this might work well for us.

zndzant hasn't been around for 6 years ... you may not get responses.

 

[Krugerrand]

Nice job! I used the hardware cloth as well. My first flock were victims of the bears thinking it was a KFC drive thru. Now I have an outer perimeter and an inner. Topped it off with a driveway alarm. Slows them down enough for me to become the predator!

Also, ! We're up to 6 1/2 years without zndzant. You may not get a response.