Build strong. Dogs can be incredibly fast and powerful

[saysfaa]

I thought we were overkilling a lot of our coop features ... like how many fasteners to attach the hardware cloth to the window frame and such. A determined effort by a dog with high prey drive has opened my eyes.

She didn't get in but WOW! I've had collies, I thought I expected a lot more power but So Much Power!! I didn't expect that much speed from her either.

I didn't worry about the metal lath but I sure thought about how thankful I am that it wasn't hardware cloth, much less chicken wire. She seemed to fully expect to go through the solid boards when the chicks were at that end. I'm not so sure she couldn't given not much time.

I don't have pictures of her in prey drive mode but here are some of her more relaxed. The black feathery looking pile is the remains of her rope chew toy. Her name is Lily and she is visiting for a week or so.

 

[nuthatched]

Yep, Bull Terriers are very, very strong! Luckily, most are sweethearts, but they instincts are still there.

 

[Folly's place]

That's why we have hardware cloth with 2"x 4" woven wire over it, all well attached, on our open coop walls.

 

[theoldchick]

Electric wire might help.

 

[Folly's place]

Yes, electric fencing is your friend!
Mary

 

[saysfaa]

She is easy to have around (except around small animals, especially if they are squeekyand pretty funny.

This is just a bid for people building coops or runs to consider that the dogs they have experience with or usually see around may not be the only ones ever around.

Oh, and on second thought, she isn't anywhere near as quick as a fox terrier I met once.

 

[LaurelC]

That's why we have hardware cloth with 2"x 4" woven wire over it, all well attached, on our open coop walls.
View attachment 2741953

This is actuallly a plan I'm making for our next coop. I intend to put cattle or hog panel on the bottom section of the run, figuring anything powerful enough to get through hardware cloth will be stopped the cattle panel, and anything small enough to get through the cattle panel will be stopped by hardware cloth.