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I had asked something similar in a different thread and the advice I was given was to avoid the 'whirlybird' style vents due to it not being very weather resistant. What I am going with now is a mix covered 'exhaust vents' I was able to pick up at a local ReStore for cheap (similar photo...

Two main avenues for predators will be air and ground. Air is easy enough to prevent using some kind of netting/wire fencing that prevents hawks/vultures/etc from diving in for a snack. Ground predators are a little more tricky and take a little more work. You need to take into account tunneling...

@meetthebubus, what is the white hosing you have running along your fence in the video? Is that a water line?

There is a lot of good information on here for coop/run designs and space estimations. Also if you can put your location (even general such as just the State/Province/etc) that would help with recommendations. As for the run, free-range versus a chicken run would change how you set things up as...

It was a recommendation when we first got them years ago. Ever since it has just been habit and with them being used to it I feel it would be hard to take it away. This next flock (probably will be harvesting our hens come fall-ish) we may or may not include the element into the coop. Hopefully...

I have a 100W ceramic heating element that I use when it gets very cold here in Colorado. It is on a timer that runs for a few hours at a time when we need it (severe snow storms, negative wind chill, etc). Mostly just keeps the ambient temperature in the coop right above the freezing mark. We...

I do it when I do a full bedding clean out, that is usually every couple of weeks it seems. I pull the shavings out, put some DE on the plywood flooring and then put shavings over that. Then I put a small amount sprinkled on the shavings and mix it up a bit. You dont want to make it really dusty...

I got to see him on his first tour when he introduced that phrase. Awesome comedian that was worth fighting through crowds and traffic to see.

I also agree with some kind of hawk or other raptor. Last winter as I was going out to check on our flock after a snowstorm, I watched a large hawk dive on a squirrel between me and the run. It took the head clean off and left the body similar to what you are describing. Our hens were huddled up...

I saw our hens catch a little field mouse once. I almost felt bad for the mouse. Looked like something out of a zombie/horror movie once they got their beaks into it... Then we debated bringing the chickens into the garage to help clear out the mice that got in there... Still no clue what they...

When even 'chicken math' becomes invalid

I second @21hens-incharge, I was hoping to get more options for you but covering the wire with something like that might be a good interim answer. How is your hen with the beak injury doing?

I would think the screenings would be an acceptable substitute. Also, it could double over as a good source of grit as most commercial grits is simply crushed granite

I have seen people use rock or paver stones around their people access doors. Also helps to keep the mud down a bit in a high traffic area

The short answer is 'No' Currently the door is shut at night but there is nothing 'holding it' closed. The magnet is on the outside to hold the door open. I am currently looking at ways to be able to both lock the door at night as well as have the push opener. I have a completely enclosed run...

I made a makeshift one using a plastic bin we had from a birthday part that held drinks. I made the raised one so they would have it available in the snow and rain without worry over the run being a giant mud puddle

Pine shavings with a little DE sprinkled in to be on the safe side

Something to remember with those fly jars, you want them away from your house and run or else it will attract the flies towards those places. I wasnt thinking last summer when I put one out and instead of reducing the fly population I doubled it....

I started feeling bad that we have not been getting up as early now that it is summer break and our son is not going to school. I had found plenty of plans for horizontal or vertical sliding doors, but not much for swing doors. Luckily (sort of) I had a bout of insomnia that led to scavenging...

I use hardware cloth around the bottom of our run and the only issue we had was I was concerned they were going to cut their throat on the top of it at one point. They were trying to peck over the mesh at some prairie grass that grew alongside the run. Trimmed the grass back and no more issues...