Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[chicken curious]

I bought 1/2" mesh on amazon (free shipping for orders over $25) :
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009H53L0/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

 

[Leahs Mom]

You can get hardware cloth at TSC, Rural King, etc. Also at Menards (& Lowes I believe).

ETA: You can get various widths and lengths if you don't foresee using 25 ft.!!!! I think they begin with 5 ft. lengths.

 

[stonykill]

That seems very expensive. Does anyone know where to get this stuff for a couple bucks less? I'm always looking for ways to cut costs. Which also brings up this topic. Does anyone have any ideas how to save money on the day to day chicken keeping lol??

that is a 25 foot roll. You can usually buy it in smaller quantities. I just supplied a link. I generally shop local, not at a home depot

 

[loanwizard]

More on the deep litter method. I must have fantastic ventilation! I used hay in the barn in March and havent changed it, cleaned it or anything. I have about 45 birds in there that free range. My newest coop is a horse stall in the barn. No smell, but I suppose I ought to either clean it out or add some more. I will have to check the consistencey to see if it is still springy or not lol!

 

[flocksalot]

I myself have always used a mix of both chicken wire and hardware cloth. I utilize other predator tools as well. Things like live traps which are regularly filled with one type of varmint or other. They are sneaky but stupid in our neck of the woods. We do not catch and release. Well alive that is. The only predator loss I have had was from domesticated animals. My father had a terrible problem with the neighbors dogs and I had only ever lost one juvenile to a cat. The coops are pretty open once the temps get above freezing, so all that covers the windows besides the window screen to keep out the flying pests is chicken wire. The winter door is removed and a summer door that is hardware cloth is installed. I also keep a low light on. It helps to deter those nasty critters as they prefer the dark of night. The other day we found one of our favorite hens with a large wound on her belly area that was at least a day old and beyond help. She was put down. Then two nights ago I was chatting with my husband in our machine shed when the group of roosters that I have in an out door pen started up a squawking. When we got over there a black cat came running out of the hen coop. The lights hadn't been turned on and the hens and Rudy our old roo didn't see the cat, but Goldie our Buff Orph felt it. Cat got her in almost the same spot as Star had been injured. The varmint must have jumped up and bite or swiped. The pop door was still open as I hadn't gotten over there yet. Too everyone that says a cat wont kill hens I say your wrong. My husband is now looking to catch himself a kitty. The cat tore Goldie open pretty good, but as we caught it right away I just treated it and stitched her back up. She won't be laying for a while, but it's better than having her dead. Had the light of been turned on earlier I doubt the cat would have slunk in there. We have been late getting down the to coops this past week and it cost us. The best predator management is good husbandry. My toiling in the garden until late or busying myself elsewhere rather than taking care of the birds is what lead to this. Call it my very own little light bulb coming on.

As for what works best? I've had mixed reviews from friends. One that only lives a mile and a half down the road and uses 1/2 inch hardware cloth lost every single bird to a coyote attack. We could hear the coyotes just a yipping, but because they were out for the evening they didn't. Next morning they found a mess and the hardware cloth looked as though something had hooked it and pulled until it stretched and tore. My neighbor does not have a light near his coop. Or at least he didn't then, but may now. Nothing is every predator proof. Those buggers will always find your week spot and take advantage. Losses are inevitable. The best you can do is make them work for it, and the longer they work at it and the more persistent they are the more likely good husbandry will notice and put stumbling blocks in their way. My biggest predator problem is the two legged kind that comes and steals eggs by the dozens. It's pretty obvious when you have been away and then you are 3 or 4 dozen eggs short for the day. Those same thieves are probably also infrequent customers that don't know I'm there until they pull up and see my car hidden. What's so stupid is if they asked they could take the week old eggs no problem, as I never sell anything more that 5 days old.

 

[flocksalot]

More on the deep litter method. I must have fantastic ventilation! I used hay in the barn in March and havent changed it, cleaned it or anything. I have about 45 birds in there that free range. My newest coop is a horse stall in the barn. No smell, but I suppose I ought to either clean it out or add some more. I will have to check the consistencey to see if it is still springy or not lol!

Man, I wish my olfactory sences would let me do the DLM. Then again I don't mind the springy bedding in the garden.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Curious if you know how they had the hardware cloth attached and...was it the wire that tore or did they tear the wire off of the frames to which they were attached?

 

[Beekissed]

Man, I wish my olfactory sences would let me do the DLM. Then again I don't mind the springy bedding in the garden.

My DL usually has no smell at all...just smells like soil.

 

[flocksalot]

Curious if you know how they had the hardware cloth attached and...was it the wire that tore or did they tear the wire off of the frames to which they were attached?

The Hardware cloth was screwed between 2 x 4's and it torn right smack in the middle of where it was pulled. It was pulled with some force. I can tell you I wouldn't have wanted to come into contact with that bunch of coyotes. Ever since then my Husband always follows me down to the coops carrying his pistol in one hand and his rifle in the other. He has high hopes. I just hope his aim is true.

 

[stonykill]

The Hardware cloth was screwed between 2 x 4's and it torn right smack in the middle of where it was pulled. It was pulled with some force. I can tell you I wouldn't have wanted to come into contact with that bunch of coyotes. Ever since then my Husband always follows me down to the coops carrying his pistol in one hand and his rifle in the other. He has high hopes. I just hope his aim is true.

I always have pieces of wood also across the opening as well as attaching how you described. Chicken eating predators are clever