Are these opening tight enough to leave uncovered?

[ImNotYogi]

Just finished covering the larger ventilation openings with 1/4 hardwire cloth. Above them, around the beams, are smaller gaps. About 1-2" high and almost 3" wide from the wall to beam.
From outside:

Inside:

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Weasels can get through all but 1/2 inch openings and kill chickens.

1/2 inch openings are all you can allow to be perfectly safe.

 

[Folly's place]

x2. You need to fix those openings, they are much too big. Mary

 

[ImNotYogi]

Alright, thanks. I'll need to secure the cloth on the outside of the coop then. I can't maneuver anything around the beams.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Alright, thanks. I'll need to secure the cloth on the outside of the coop then. I can't maneuver anything around the beams.

Some people (I have not tried this) use large washers with screws to help keep the hardware cloth stable.

In my previous post I said "perfectly" safe but I had better change that to "safer," since predators can always surprise you. Raccoons can be daring and clever, for example. I would not expect those holes to admit raccoons, however.

I hope this helps!

Enjoy your chickens!

Oh- I almost forgot- I wanted to mention that I didn't think we had weasels around here, but recently saw one in the front yard that an aerial predator had dropped. Imagine my shock to find out we have them here! So even if you have never seen one, it doesn't mean they aren't around, sadly.

 

[ImNotYogi]

I used screws and washers with the cloth. I'd rather have it as secure as possible before they're in the coop than to learn the hard way. I can see if something happened while freeranging but not for something to get into the coop.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I used screws and washers with the cloth. I'd rather have it as secure as possible before they're in the coop than to learn the hard way. I can see if something happened while freeranging but not for something to get into the coop.

Yes it is a nice feeling to not have to worry about them at night!