Can raccoons chew through polycarbonate panels?

[K0k0shka]

Yeah I use screws for everything, I don’t like nails. Star drive screws are the best! They don’t strip or jump.

Now here’s my beef. The stuff becomes as brittle as thin glass and shatters at the drop of a hickory nut on the tree above my run.

Now this... worries me. I don’t have any nuts on my property but the run will be under a giant maple tree that likes to drop branches once in a while. Most of the time just twigs, but occasionally bigger sticks as well... I may need to ask around some more and see how many people have had issues and if sticks are a problem.

 

[K0k0shka]

Depending on where you live in boston area, you may need to ask around about the predators in the area. In the city - you're likely dealing with raccoon, skunk, mice and rats. If that's the case, the polycarbonate alone should be fine. If you're further into the 'burbs and your starting to deal with weasel, particularly bigger members like a fisher, (fishercat here in NH) - you should consider hardware cloth underneath. If you know the person that gave you the panels well enough to trust them, rather than off craigslist, they are probably a good source of local info. Perhaps some more info (not specific - but north shore, suburban development, etc, might have someone local that can jump in to the discussion with more specific advice.

I’m on the border between city and burbs, with woods nearby, so we kinda get a little bit of everything... I asked other chicken owners in my neighborhood and their experiences vary greatly. The woman who gave me the 2” panels lives 10 minutes away at the edge of the woods, and says she had no predator-related casualties for 16 years. But another woman who lives 5 minutes away says that a small predator got into her run through a small opening and took a chicken, and she says 2” is crazy and to get 1/2”.... So that’s confusing me further

 

[K0k0shka]

Sometimes all you can do is the best you can - if money is an issue (as it often is) sometimes you just have to expand or add improvements over time. If I were to redo my run it'd have a roof on it at the very least and have taller walls and overall make it a lot more secure, but sometimes you have to work with what you've got. I know neither aart nor I have "Fort Knox" runs so there is some risk of loss involved.

This is reassuring to hear, thank you! I may need to take some risks and keep adding more protection over time... Chickens are cheaper to replace than their stuff is to build.

 

[rosemarythyme]

This is reassuring to hear, thank you! I may need to take some risks and keep adding more protection over time... Chickens are cheaper to replace than their stuff is to build.

Sadly that's the truth. Not that I want to lose any, as ours are pets - but I feel locking them up at night goes a long way in protecting them especially since I'm usually at home and can hear if there's a commotion outside. My only predator loss thus far was to a hawk while I was out grocery shopping (and I heard the aftermath and went out to investigate) - I netted over the run right after that.

 

[Mimi13]

under a giant maple tree that likes to drop branches once in a while. Most of the time just twigs, but occasionally bigger sticks as well

My maples also drop their fare share of limbs, all the time. I don’t know how your maples would size up to mine, but I don’t think mine would be a threat to the polycarbonate panels, however, that is mainly because mine aren’t all that tall, comparatively speaking. They may be 30’ or thereabouts, but about a third of the hickory height. Now my Hickory tree, that I hate, has substantially heavier limbs than most of my other trees (Dogwood and Redbud). And when those limbs and nuts drop, they drop from a much higher position making them more lethal for my polycarbonate panels.

However, I still love - and miss - the light those panels let in.

 

[K0k0shka]

My maples also drop their fare share of limbs, all the time. I don’t know how your maples would size up to mine, but I don’t think mine would be a threat to the polycarbonate panels, however, that is mainly because mine aren’t all that tall, comparatively speaking. They may be 30’ or thereabouts, but about a third of the hickory height. Now my Hickory tree, that I hate, has substantially heavier limbs than most of my other trees (Dogwood and Redbud). And when those limbs and nuts drop, they drop from a much higher position making them more lethal for my polycarbonate panels.

However, I still love - and miss - the light those panels let in.

My maple is huge. The trunk is about 3 feet in diameter and the tree is taller than a 3-story house. I love it! But it drops branches from quite the height... Once it dropped a limb thicker than my thigh, but that’s been once in the 7 years I’ve lived here. And at that point I’d be happy if the frame survives, nevermind the poly. I just wonder about the everyday small branches.

 

[blackdog043]

I used tan Tuftex SeaCoaster panels on my run, they have held up fine for the past three years. I have branches fall from the trees and no damage has happened. The biggest tree is right over the run. I wanted to use clear, but used tan, because I didn't want to be looking at all the tree limbs and leaves that fall on it. I do clean it off every so often. I used Teks #9 x 1-1/2-in Zinc-Plated Zinc-Plated Self-Drilling Roofing Screws. The screws go on the high hump, not in the low side and should only be tightened until it touches the panel. I put the screws about every third hump around the edges, to secure it better.

 

[CindyinSD]

Hmmm... Sounds like lots of screws with washers then!

Just use the screws made for corrugated or metal roofing. They have a special name but I can’t remember it. The washer and gasket are part of the screw. You put them in with a nut driver—they have a hex head—impact driver works best but a regular drill also works.

 

[cavemanrich]

Now this... worries me. I don’t have any nuts on my property but the run will be under a giant maple tree that likes to drop branches once in a while. Most of the time just twigs, but occasionally bigger sticks as well... I may need to ask around some more and see how many people have had issues and if sticks are a problem.

I have those same Polycarbonate panels over an open-air shelter behind my garage. (not affiliated with chickens),,, Put it up about 15+ years ago.. It only developed about 3 broken areas in last 2 years. So about 13 years or so of trouble free service. I think that is pretty good. My panels are clear blue. I do get some branches falling on all my roofs. None are very thick.

And when those limbs and nuts drop, they drop from a much higher position making them more lethal for my polycarbonate panels.
However, I still love - and miss - the light those panels let in.

In your case if you have kamikaze nuts invading, you can opt for fiberglass panels. They are MUCH TOUGHER, do let light thru, but not available in CLEAR.

 

[NHMountainMan]

I’m on the border between city and burbs, with woods nearby, so we kinda get a little bit of everything... I asked other chicken owners in my neighborhood and their experiences vary greatly. The woman who gave me the 2” panels lives 10 minutes away at the edge of the woods, and says she had no predator-related casualties for 16 years. But another woman who lives 5 minutes away says that a small predator got into her run through a small opening and took a chicken, and she says 2” is crazy and to get 1/2”.... So that’s confusing me further

The 1/2” hardware cloth is recommended as the best way to prevent anything from getting into the coop and run. 2” holes will allow rats, ermine, long tailed weasel and snakes to get through. And a raccoon can reach through. But a chicken wouldn’t disappear , so I’d suspect there was a gap in your neighbor’s run.
As mentioned- only you can decide what fits your needs- whether budget, risk tolerance or willingness to lose and replace chickens. There isn’t a right answer- do what you feel is best and as you learn from your experience and the BYC community- you can always make changes.
Good luck.