Advice for further predator proofing!

[Ajp23]

Good morning from Texas on a (finally!) rainy and cooler day!

We have recently moved and the coop is under construction. We are now on a wooded, two-acre lot that backs up to a lake area so there are far more predators here than in our previous, more residential neighborhood.

I’ve posted our progress below and would be grateful for any advice on further predator proofing! We have not yet begun to add more ventilation toward the top but that is on the way. Pardon the construction zone:

The front windows are fixed and do not open. The door has a very hard to turn door handle but I know we need reinforcement. What type of lock will raccoons be most angered by?

These windows open but have hardware cloth on the inside. Should anything be added to the outside? (Excuse the fan - only a week or so ago we were in the 100+ degree range and were desperate to provide the girls some relief.)

When vents are added, do they have hardware cloth added inside as well or is a heavy duty screw into studs sufficient?


Last question is how much do I need to be concerned about predator proofing the run? It currently has hardware cloth dug down around the perimeter and will be fully roofed once complete. You can see though that the smaller cloth ends a few feet up, giving way to larger wire. Is there enough concern about daytime predators to warrant clothing the entire “wall”? It is currently fence stapled to hold in place but we are adding screws and washers today unless there is better advice.

Thank you!!! This was long - thanks to anyone still with me. I want to do right by these chickens - our kids are our bosses and demand the best for their pets!

 

[DLA]

Raccoons can't open these, I've had them try and give up. (these latches photos aren't from my coop, found them online but I use the exact same kind of latches). We have a ton of predators here in PA so I personally would put hardware cloth with an apron all over and not have any wire with large openings or any vents or windows or even small gaps where something could squeeze thru anywhere. You cannot have too much ventilation on a coop. I installed an inner wire door on my coop and the solid doors only get shut for bad weather or extreme cold. I also have a motion activated light that seems to help deter most things messing about.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

DLA is right on about latches with carabiners. If a 3-yo child can't open it, neither can a raccoon. And btw, you don't want to "anger" the raccoons, you want to frustrate them so they give up and go away in search of easier meals! A hook and eye latch as shown in DLA's 2nd photo - too easy by half.

Also, hardware cloth should really be attached to the outside of all doors, windows and walls, so a hard push from the outside can't dislodge it. Cover the edges with lath, screwed on.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It is a very good idea to predator-proof the run.

 

[StinkyAcres]

When vents are added, do they have hardware cloth added inside as well or is a heavy duty screw into studs sufficient?

The vents should ideally be large hardware cloth-covered gaps up high (think square feet not inches). You'll probably want to cut out most of or maybe even the entire triangular section above the trim on both sides.

Last question is how much do I need to be concerned about predator proofing the run? It currently has hardware cloth dug down around the perimeter and will be fully roofed once complete. You can see though that the smaller cloth ends a few feet up, giving way to larger wire. Is there enough concern about daytime predators to warrant clothing the entire “wall”? It is currently fence stapled to hold in place but we are adding screws and washers today unless there is better advice.

That depends. Predators are less likely to break in in the daytime but anything can happen. A mink/weasel could easily get in and a raccoon could reach in and grab a chicken through the wire. If you don't want to risk losing any of your birds to predators you will need to cover the entire run with hardware cloth. It's up to you to decide if it's worth the money and time installing it.

My run is not predator proof and I know the risks. I have seen almost every predator you can find here and I know what it's like to lose birds to some of them. I do think the presence of my dogs on the property and the multiple layers of fencing deters most of them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As for the coop door, it has a key hole, do you not have the key for it? Lock it and that's raccoon proof. You can attach the key somewhere nearby if humans aren't considered a threat.

For windows and vents, hardware cloth securely attached outside is the general preference but if you have it inside already it's probably overkill to double up on it.

For the run, it depends on how much predator protection you're expecting from it. If you want predator proof then you'll need to cover every gap wider than 1/2" with hardware cloth. If predator resistant is the goal, with the chickens locked up at night in the predator proof coop, then having hardware cloth up the bottom few feet will at least prevent raccoons from having an easy reach through, and may deter some less driven pests/predators from entering.

 

[aart]

The top edge of the HC in the last pic shows buckling that could give a paw or tooth hold to peel those staples right out.

I'd be more worried about the significant lack of coop ventilation in your climate.

 

[Ajp23]

As for the coop door, it has a key hole, do you not have the key for it? Lock it and that's raccoon proof. You can attach the key somewhere nearby if humans aren't considered a threat.

For windows and vents, hardware cloth securely attached outside is the general preference but if you have it inside already it's probably overkill to double up on it.

For the run, it depends on how much predator protection you're expecting from it. If you want predator proof then you'll need to cover every gap wider than 1/2" with hardware cloth. If predator resistant is the goal, with the chickens locked up at night in the predator proof coop, then having hardware cloth up the bottom few feet will at least prevent raccoons from having an easy reach through, and may deter some less driven pests/predators from entering.

Well it had a key until my son lost it in the leaves . Thank you for the advice about moving hardware cloth to the exterior, we will definitely do that!

 

[Ajp23]

The top edge of the HC in the last pic shows buckling that could give a paw or tooth hold to peel those staples right out.

I'd be more worried about the significant lack of coop ventilation in your climate.

Yes I agree! Ventilation is on the schedule for this weekend and the hardware cloth has been screwed in with washers as of last night.

Really it seems like cutting out large sections and covering with HC is much better and easier than trying to deal with vents. Thank you!

 

[PopoMyers]

We finally put two strands of electric fence wire all around our run and coop. Raccoons can climb over a 6 ft. fence.