Chicken Proof Run-- Have We Made a Mistake??????

[BigBlueHen53]

Hi, welcome to BYC. Not to be negative, but... snakes can also get through that big chicken wire. They'll come after the eggs. I don't know what kind of predators you have in your area, but that wire is not secure against things like mice, which may go after spilled feed, and rats (eggs), weasels and mink (eggs and chickens). Many of us have learned the painful and expensive lesson that hardware cloth is an excellent investment in chicken security. Good luck to you, and enjoy your flock!

 

[DaisyG2317]

Pullet Shut auto door is great!

 

[ejtalbert]

We have hardwarcloth 2 feet up and then chickenwire. Has worked for us for over a decade, but we don't have determined predators, just opportunistic ones

Ah, I would like to say same for us, but I haven't had any experience with the predators around our area. I would assume, since we live in a suburb, they wouldn't be too bold, but you can never be to safe!

 

[ejtalbert]

Chicken wire will get chewed through but a secure coop is FAR more important. We only seem to lose birds at night here.

Yes, I have a pop door atm, that slides back and forth with handles. Pretty basic, so to keep smart critters like raccoons out we put a plastic stick in the door ridge (like inside a home with glass sliding doors) to make double sure the door won't be opened by anyone but us.

 

[ejtalbert]

Hi, welcome to BYC. Not to be negative, but... snakes can also get through that big chicken wire. They'll come after the eggs. I don't know what kind of predators you have in your area, but that wire is not secure against things like mice, which may go after spilled feed, and rats (eggs), weasels and mink (eggs and chickens). Many of us have learned the painful and expensive lesson that hardware cloth is an excellent investment in chicken security. Good luck to you, and enjoy your flock!

Thank you for your response. I have heard this about the snakes, of which I never never caught one glimpse of in my yard, same for weasels and minks, but those are quite the tricky critters!

 

[jreardon1918]

OP. Can you tell us where you are located. General area is fine. We are in SE Mass. Plenty of predators. Dogs, cats, fox, weasels, hawks, snakes... See some, just assume some are around.

 

[ejtalbert]

OP. Can you tell us where you are located. General area is fine. We are in SE Mass. Plenty of predators. Dogs, cats, fox, weasels, hawks, snakes... See some, just assume some are around.

Midwest. We don’t have many foxes, snakes or weasels, but hawks are a big problem, and we have a few dogs, cat, raccoons.

 

[aart]

Ah, I would like to say same for us, but I haven't had any experience with the predators around our area. I would assume, since we live in a suburb, they wouldn't be too bold, but you can never be to safe!

All predators are bold.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Ah, I would like to say same for us, but I haven't had any experience with the predators around our area. I would assume, since we live in a suburb, they wouldn't be too bold, but you can never be to safe!

Anything that's hungry enough or confident enough can be too bold

 

[DaisyG2317]

All predators are bold.

Anything that's hungry enough or confident enough can be too bold

X2 to both! Coming out of the the woods that surrounds my home I have seen in broad, and I mean middle of the afternoon, daylight come into my yard:

Bobcat (that actually CHASED my cat)
Coyotes
Barred owl (hunting the same cat...maybe he needs to stay inside lol)
Raccoons
A weasel looking character
Hawks
Eagles
Bear

When a tasty treat like chickens is involved it's game on for the predators.