Bears and Windows

[littlefork]

I posted this in the coop construction forum and did not get any responses. We bought crank out windows for the coop thinking it would be great as they would keep most of the rain out, we plan to back them with 1/4" hardware cloth on the inside. But lately I've become increasingly concerned about the black bear that visits us on occasion, I'm afraid that the open windows will give him an easy entrance into the coop, if he can grap them and rip them off the frame. Am I right to be concerned? Four of the windows will be on the run side and I think they will be ok, but the others concern me, and our coop is very close to the woods so I'm sure that the bear(s) will check it out. Any ideas to bear proof the windows or should I reconsider the window selection and go with something else?

 

[theFox]

Here is how I figure it when it comes to bears, you want nothing that they can grab and rip off in an area that isn't in line of sight.

Anything you do to slow down a bear until you can blast it with slugs from a shotgun or bullets from a rifle might save some of your birds, other than that, you need a hot wire that can penetrate their fur coat, they can make mince meat of most outbuildings.

 

[panner123]

Use the windows, your chickens will enjoy them. As for keeping a bear out, nothing short of a coop made out of 1/2" steel plate will deep them out.

 

[Equus5O]

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I second what he said! Even if the windows are closed, the bears will be able to remove them. Such is life ...

 

[chickortreat]

A .30-06 will deter a bear jsut fine.....

 

[WillieBoy]

When it comes to dealing with black bears and chicken coops, you need to get electric wire around the coop.Like mentioned, unless your using steel plate for a coop, you will not stop a determined bear.Windows are great in a coop, but a bear will rip the door off a coop, rip its way through the walls.Put hot wire around the coop.I've read here that people hang a treat for Mr.Bear on the hot wire and when he goes to smell it, gets a very unplesant surprise, which deter most bears...my 2 cent,,,

good luck...

 

[Equus5O]

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That'll work if you witness the attack.

 

[Equus5O]

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Believe me, after what happened last week that's next on our agenda.

 

[littlefork]

Thanks for all the replies, we have decided that we will put a run on three sides if the coop and not put windows on the one side that will not have a run attached, and I finally talked DH into putting electric fence completely around the coop and the runs. Hopefully that will work. I'm afraid that if I had a gun I'd shoot myself in the foot!!! Darn bear have ruined bird feeders, dug a trench in our wooden deck and smashed a couple if trash cans in the past. Now I only feed the birds between November and March, and we never put food scraps in the trash, or the compost. We got worm bins for the basement and all our food scraps go to them.