Can a predator fit through this gap?

[JuliB]

Trying my hand at building my first chicken coop to get my little flock out of the dog crate they currently call home.

I am happy with everything about my little coop but I left a gap at the top for ventilation because we are quite hot here. Just wondering if it needs wire for safety. It’s about 4”. After that, I just need to put my doors on and paint it!

We just moved to 11 acres of grassland. I plan on letting my flock out for the day and shutting them in at night, assuming they come back home. If not, they’re on their own I guess. They’re all pretty feral, rescued adult leghorns and guinea hens.... Hoping to eventually start some chicks, but for now, I just want to do right by these birds.

 

[PirateGirl]

I'm not sure what predators you have, but there are a LOT of critters that could fit through that gap. I'd definitely put some sort of wire/screen over it.

 

[JuliB]

I'm not sure what predators you have, but there are a LOT of critters that could fit through that gap. I'd definitely put some sort of wire/screen over it.

Mostly lots of hawks and owls, but just because I don’t see raccoons doesn’t mean they’re not out there. A rat snake made the mistake of going into the current pen and the guineas killed him.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Yes, predators will get through that gap.
More concerning is the chicken wire. That's not at all predator-proof. A raccoon will tear right through it to get to your birds, and other predators can reach through and grab. It should really be covered in hardware cloth.

 

[Compost King]

There are predators can can fit through the gap above it. I found out the hard way.

 

[aart]

Can a predator fit through this gap?
It’s about 4”.

Yep, and the one above it......but they won't need to, they can just go thru the chicken wire below.

 

[PirateGirl]

raccoons, opossums, skunks, bobcats, assorted weasels, feral cats, assorted rodents (may not kill the birds, but may cause other problems)

 

[HopeSprings]

I've got hardware cloth running along the undersides of the eaves. Don't want snakes getting in!

 

[quackersandfern]

Most definitely! Securely attach 1/4" or 1/2" hardware cloth

 

[archeryrob]

I have seen coons climb a rain spout, pull sofit back and slide right into someones attic. You could hardly even tell they went through the soffit.

You're going to need to hardware cloth the gap with your hand and block the soffit gap with wood as hardware cloth will not attach to it.