Comprehensive list of preditor proofing needs

[kesrchicky16]

I am prepping to build another coop. I have been reading and wanted to make a concise list to make sure I hadn't missed anything.

Coop Ventilated but draft free - frost bite and cold
Run - I choose chainlink with hardware cloth 2 foot lower skirt to keep chicks in, covered with chain link panel (ward off hawks, owls,...),
Coop and run - buried hardware cloth apron, (digging critters like coons, foxes, badgers)
My broody chickens will be in x-large individual wire dog crates on the ground with covered roofs to protect then from their fellow chickens. And have small food and water inside and I will clean broody poos daily when I feed.
I know I have snakes but the nests are elevated in the solid wood coop and the only reason I know I have snakes is from seeing my cats eating one (yuck).
There are bears in the mountains (1+ hours away) but never seen down in the valley where I live. There have been mountain lion sightings down here over the years. I have killed coons and skunks in traps around the coop. Stray dogs, coyotes, have seen foxes close by, and bagers in the valley but not close by. I keep cats to control the mice and honestly have only seen evidence of mice inside a shed where the cats can't get. Don't remember seeing rats ever.

I live in central utah. What have I missed? Honestly the only digging I've seen is my chickens taking dust baths but it's only a matter of time. I have power in the coop but I also have small kids so I don't really want to do electric fence.

Thanks for any advice on fort knox-ifying my chickens.

 

[CntryBoy777]

If ya don't want to use electric wire, a couple of dogs would certainly help....if the chickens are proofed, then LGDs wouldn't be necessary, but a couple of german shepherds sure would be a big help to ya and also help to watch the kids when they are outside with such a variety of predators around. Their scent, barking, and presence would be enough to keep many at bay and they certainly would alert ya to anything suspicious that may need checking out before it becomes an issue. Other dogs could also work, but I would go with a proven guardian breed...not one that has a high prey drive.

 

[21hens-incharge]

If you have small wild birds around you may want to add a smaller wire or deer netting over your run.
The little birds bring in all kinds of crawly mites and lice.

Predators can be very very small too. Little blood suckers can decimate egg production and even kill birds.

 

[kesrchicky16]

If you have small wild birds around you may want to add a smaller wire or deer netting over your run.
The little birds bring in all kinds of crawly mites and lice.

Predators can be very very small too. Little blood suckers can decimate egg production and even kill birds.

I hadn't thought about that aspect of chicken keeping. I knew wild birds cost feed but didn't think about bringing parasites.

 

[kesrchicky16]

If ya don't want to use electric wire, a couple of dogs would certainly help....if the chickens are proofed, then LGDs wouldn't be necessary, but a couple of german shepherds sure would be a big help to ya and also help to watch the kids when they are outside with such a variety of predators around. Their scent, barking, and presence would be enough to keep many at bay and they certainly would alert ya to anything suspicious that may need checking out before it becomes an issue. Other dogs could also work, but I would go with a proven guardian breed...not one that has a high prey drive.

I have an old Australian Shepard mix. He gets to roam the yard.

I haven't seen the mountain lions in my immediate area and the DNR cops make getting those large preditor out a priority. Even had a local sheriff stop to warn me about stray dogs. I verified that we could shoot if they came oon the property. His response, "Yes. Then they aren't anyone's problem anymore."