chickenwire limitations

[DrakeMaiden]

From the many posts that I've read here, and from what I've read elsewhere, I have come to the conclusion that chickenwire is ok for the top of a coop and for the areas above say 2' off the ground on the coop.

My understanding is that raccoons can chew/rip through chickenwire, but that this usually only occurs at ground level.

But I've also heard people say chickenwire is useless.

So my question is mainly: Can a raccoon work its way through chickenwire while it is hanging on to the side of a wooden structure?

 

[speckledhen]

It probably can, especially if motivated by extreme hunger. I wouldn't put anything past a hungry raccoon, however, as you said, they are more likely to chew through the wire while on solid footing, as on the ground or laying across it on top of the run.

 

[allen wranch]

Raccoons are excellent climbers and are very smart (can use fingers to unlatch locks).

I would cover any chicken wire with welded wire, then put hardware cloth around the bottom to prevent them from reaching through.

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, I've had coons go though chicken wire... yet that's still what I use because it is what I have on hand. If you have to buy wire, welded wire is best. Since I do use chicken wire, I accept losses and have a trap ready for any potentials. I usually end up trapping the coon before it gets though the wire since they will circle the cage once before picking a spot and digging in. Then I dispose of the coon before it breaks in.

 

[franko]

One thing I would suggest. Bury your wire about a foot deep around the coop. I dug out and put fresh concret down and set the wire in it. It seem like a lot of work, but you can sleep at night. I know first hand. I lost my buffs to coons going under the wire. Never again. I used cattle panel and chicken wire. Good luck

 

[ivan3]

I'm with SilkieChicken: If your situation is such that chicken wire is the primary fencing, then get a live trap. In my experience nearly all raccoons/`poss will go for the easy meal first (not a cure-all but better than chickenwire alone).

 

[Dawn419]

Quote:
Your idea is great as long as the set-up is permanent. We are renting our place so we want to be able to move our coops when we finally get our own place. What I did was run a section of 3' chicken wire on the ground, around the main coop/run, then staked it down with lanscape staples/stakes.



Dawn

 

[Rebeccahorse]

put some food out for the coons.

 

[First-time-raising]

Dawn,

You just left the chicken wire right on top of the ground?
Do you have coons in your area?

 

[Dawn419]

Quote:
Yep, it's staked to the ground for now and will have raised bed garden over it soon.

We have coons, possums, hawks, fox, coyotes, stray dogs & cats, and possibly human predators here, why???

Dawn