Anyone heard of predators coming in through the roof?

[Howard E]

On the topic of your "clear or translucent" roofing material, I used the translucent stuff. It came from Home Depot and I think the color was "pearl". It is NOT the clear stuff. That would let in too much light and heat. Seems they rated this for about 70% to 80% light transmission. Some light gets through, but it is pretty good shade beneath it.

I used it on the front (scratch shed) of this Woods house........also used the scraps as temp covering over the monitor windows.






Jury is still out, but it came with a 30 year warranty (I consider these worthless.....only an indication of hopeful durability). It has repelled rain, snow and hail and has stayed put through 50 mph straight line winds. Don't know if a coon has climbed on top to try to rip it up, but if so, none has.

A second, potentially less expensive option would be to purchase skylight panels intended for pole barns. They are the same length and width as the sheet metal they use on the roof. Of those I've seen, the durability is about half that of the sheet metal, but should do OK for a chicken house or chicken house run. I have replaced one set that was 30 years old and shot. The ones out back are now 15 years old and still OK.

Skylight panels are flat on the bottom, so are easier to install than the corrugated stuff. They also are 3' wide vs. only 2' for most corrugated roofing.

 

[AfroChickens]

Thanks for the tips everyone. I've been working hard on my run/coop these past few days. Changed a few things to make it more predator proof.I really appreciate y'all advice! =)

 

[azygous]

The one sure-fire insurance that will keep predators of any size and intelligence from doing their mischief is running a poly hot wire around the entire run and coop at ground level and another at the 24 inch level, then plugging it into a fence charger. It sends out a pulse of electricity that, if you were to touch it, delivers a jolt about like static electricity, except if you're wet, then it can hurt some, but won't kill anyone.

The "secret" ingredient to the "sure-fire" part is dabbing peanut butter at intervals on the wire so the predator tastes and gets one heck of a strong message. That predator won't be back, and no predator will feel like climbing onto the roof to tear it up to get to your chickens. It would be the best insurance against the raccoons you're concerned about.

Chargers aren't very expensive for the plug-in kind, and the insulators are reasonable and the wire is pretty cheap.

I have bears among other predators. I've watched as a bear came up to the run, tasted the peanut butter on the hot wire, and made an immediate 180 and zoomed out of there never to return. Good times.