Can a coon get though field fence?

[speckledhen]

None of my pens except for one are coon-proof. They are all 2x4 opening welded wire fencing with only some hardware cloth or chicken wire wrapping the bottom couple of feet so birds can't stick their heads out the openings, but any coon can climb anything. I don't sweat it because my chickens are always in their safe coops before dusk, when coons usually begin to prowl. The pens have dig barriers for daytime predators like dogs, foxes, coyotes and the fences are close to 6' tall, some higher, so not that worried about daytime predators except for hawks, if one could get a good dive in our tree cover. The rare daytime coon would be outed by my alert roosters and with room to run, they wouldn't be trapped inside the coop, and we're usually home during the day to hear any ruckus. As long as your coop is coon-proof, with latches he cannot finagle with his dexterous fingers, if you get them in before dusk, they're probably fairly safe from raccoons, no matter what fencing you have. Of course, there are many other predators to deal with besides raccoons.

 

[gophert]

Again, climbing over is not a factor--look at the design of the coop (really a chicken ark) in my first post and you will see why. Climbing is not a concern--only reaching in or chewing through the fence are. I really don't think a coon can get its entire body through a 2"x 3" opening. A weasel certainly could, but I suspect they are pretty rare around here.

I am not familiar with J clips--thanks for the info. That would be quicker than removing the field fence, which is very well attached.

 

[AV Brahmas]

First an opinion. Your chickens should be able to stay in their house around the clock without harm to them. You need to add ventilation or whatever it takes to make this possible. Any minor emergency that calls you away in the night will mean death to your birds. Locking an animal up in a hot box where your sudden absence means their lingering death is not good animal husbandry.

I remove 2-3 dozen racoons from this property each year. They are not breathing when they go. My first experience with them came as a child and involved goose netting (large hole chicken wire) which they pulled apart like it was not there. Regular chicken wire was not much better but will keep out the small ones. Hardware cloth of the old style with heavily soldered joints will stop a coon. Newer hardware cloth I would not trust if the coon was on one side and could see the bird on the other. It is OK for pens with roosted birds.
Rabbit wire will definitely stop a coon. Our gamebird pens have it on the outside and the only casualties were some quail and it was a reach thru situation. I love rabbit wire and use it on all pens where birds might be seen by the predator. Comes in two sizes....large for the sides and small for the floors of the cages.

My opinion, however, is that your wire is not the problem. The too tight building that prevents the safe housing of the birds until your friend can get there and let them out is the problem. I would address that urgently.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I would put a heavy gauge 1/2" hardware cloth over it. We usually attach it with wood screws and washers.

A raccoon doesn't need to get through the field fencing to kill your chickens. Raccoons are well known for killing and eating chickens through wire fencing. All they need is a large enough gap to get their little paw through. It's nasty.

Since no one will be there and you have a raccoon that you've seen sleeping in the tree behind your house, I would definitely add the hardware cloth.

 

[mandelyn]

Quote:
The problem with field fence is that it is WOVEN, not welded. There are different grades to fencing, even hardware cloth, for it's strength and durability. Some brands have stronger welds than others and will last longer and be stronger (when combined with quality material and a good weld). BUT, woven is still woven.

The issue with woven wire is that it can be pulled out of shape to enlarge an opening. It isn't a matter of weak welds on a lower grade fence material, but an issue of the weave being pliable.

A coon won't chew through it, no. BUT, if you're doubting the security of it, go out there and get a hand on either side of a square and pull, see if you can enlarge the opening. A large, and strong coon might be able to do that. Coons are a LOT stronger than people give them credit for.

 

[gophert]

I would appreciate if all who want to give an opinion would look at my coop's design: http://catawbacoops.com/the-catawba-converticoop-chicken-coop-image-gallery.html

It is pretty unconventional and not the same as most coops, though it is an established design used by many and sold commercially. They certainly have plenty of ventilation downstairs, but upstairs, with the trapdoor shut, is a little close and tight. There is obviously some ventilation, and we added more by drilling small holes in the wood. However, I live in a hot climate, though the ark is in full shade. I think in most cases it would not be a big issue, but I don't want to risk it just in case our chicken sitter flakes out or oversleeps.

It's hard for me to imagine a nighttime disaster that would have us all out of the house. I have two small children who would not be dragged out of the house at 3 am barring apocalypse of some sort. When one child went to the ER in the night recently, the other parent stayed home. That said, in dire emergency, I certainly have fellow chicken owner friends who would come open the trapdoor for us. I would rather not ask my petsitter to be here at 7 am on a weekend, though, unless we decide it is absolutely necessary. Which it may be--I am not sure. That's why I posted....

 

[gophert]

Good idea to see if it can be easily pulled. I don't know. Will check and see.

At this point I am hoping to be abelt to get the hardware cloth attached before the weekend, though, anyway.