Bear-proof Chicken Coop

[3dogcp]

The same thing happened to us. Lost all my Silkies and 2 big turkeys. Game warden said I'll never be safe until I have an electric fence. That's what I plan to do next year.

 

[RubyQue]

Hi to the need for a bear-proof chicken coop.....Husband has build a construction grade chain link fence enclosure...top, bottom and sides all connected with fence clamps. Under a large carport and electrified with a high voltage fence around it (like horse fence with four wires) but is very strong. We live in N. CA in the mountains with many bears, mountain lions, coyotes, foxes, etc. Have spotted all on game cameras by chicken pen. There is a great article on electric fence for grizzly bears and how it works...when they are less than 3 inches from fence they sense it and will not bother. However, please get a powerful electric charger just to make sure. We have had no break-ins. Good luck to you and save chicken keeping...they are also my loving pets.

 

[RubyQue]

Also, when I went to Banff, Canada the game warden told us they run 220V around where they do not want the grizzlies in...however, if there are kids, dogs etc. I think that be very dangerous.

 

[streetly]

Electric fence is the only way to go. And it should be as far away from the coop as possible (like, set back a good ways, rather than just *on* the coop and run themselves), and backed by as reliable a charger as you can purchase.

Good extra insurance would be to spring for a) a digital fence tester, not one of the five-neon-lights jobbies which are notoriously inaccurate, because you NEED to make sure you always have enough charge on the fence for bear; and b) a light or alarm, there are various options, that will make it easy for you to know when the fence fails so you can go out promptly and do something about it.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

I was designing to put electric wires *on* the coop. Why do you say not to?