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AshleyI

AshleyI

In the Brooder
Joined
Jul 5, 2015
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Location
Fort Collins, CO
Hi all! I recently purchased six Wyandotte pullets. They're now 2 1/2 weeks old. I'm so excited! I converted an old dog kennel into a coop and run for them. I am confident that no predators can get in. However, the ladies are younger than I had expected and I've noted that they can slip through the chain link around the run. My neighbor has two cats that I've seen snooping around. I hate to coop the ladies up until they are bigger. Suggestions??


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Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. If your chicks can slip through the openings in the chain link, there are plenty of predators that can slip though them as well such as rats, snakes, weasels, minks, etc. Also predators such as raccoons will reach through the openings in the chain link and grab your chickens with their paws, pulling them against the fence and killing them. I would strongly advise putting hardware cloth over that chain link. Also you need to make sure that the top of the enclosure is covered with hardware cloth as well or predators will climb up the chain link and enter from above. Adding hardware cloth will add some expense to your coop/run, but it's a one time expense and it's cheaper than replacing your flock. Also, make sure that you use either a padlock or a double action latch on your coop door as raccoons can easily figure out how to open a single action latch. There is a good article at http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/07/11-tips-for-predator-proofing-chickens.html on predator proofing your chickens. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in protecting your flock from predators.
 
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Hi, welcome to BYC!

Glad to hear you are enjoying your Wyandottes, thanks for sharing the pictures.

x2 on @Michael OShay 's advice regarding hardware cloth to better protect against loss of your birds. Better to be safe than sorry, right?

Good luck with your flock, it's nice to have you here!
 
Michael OShay said:
Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. If your chicks can slip through the openings in the chain link, there are plenty of predators that can slip though them as well such as rats, snakes, weasels, minks, etc. Also predators such as raccoons will reach through the openings in the chain link and grab your chickens with their paws, pulling them against the fence and killing them. I would strongly advise putting hardware cloth over that chain link. Also you need to make sure that the top of the enclosure is covered with hardware cloth as well or predators will climb up the chain link and enter from above. Adding hardware cloth will add some expense to your coop/run, but it's a one time expense and it's cheaper than replacing your flock. Also, make sure that you use either a padlock or a double action latch on your coop door as raccoons can easily figure out how to open a single action latch. There is a good article at http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/07/11-tips-for-predator-proofing-chickens.html on predator proofing your chickens. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck in protecting your flock from predators.
Click to expand...
Would I just need to cover the bottom 2-3' of the fence? I have hardware cloth everywhere else including the top of the run.
 
AshleyI said:
Would I just need to cover the bottom 2-3' of the fence? I have hardware cloth everywhere else including the top of the run.
Click to expand...
HI and Welcome to BYC.

IMO unless you can monitor them when they are in the run and lock them in the coop at night, you should cover the whole thing with hardware cloth. It does increase the cost a lot, but worth the added security.

Weasels and other relatives can climb and enter thru even small holes and the result would be devastating.
 
AshleyI said:
Would I just need to cover the bottom 2-3' of the fence? I have hardware cloth everywhere else including the top of the run.
Click to expand...

You need to put hardware cloth wherever you don't currently have it now. The openings in the mesh of the hardware cloth are too small for any predators to squeeze through or for raccoons to slip their paws through.
 
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Thanks everyone. I put hardware cloth everywhere so they now have a safe run and a safe coop when I can't watch them.
 

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