Coon proof door knob?

[briana1975]

Ok we have been building our coop and we have posted a lot of pictures. We got the door on last night. It was a door we found out for the garbage and brought it home for the coop. Door frame was busted so my husband rebuit it. Anyways we replaced the door knob with a plain old closet knob. No lock just turn knob and pull the door open. Does anyone think a coon could open this? The chicken door will have a latch and master lock on it. Should we put a latch on the people door too? We have a lot of racoons in the area. I have aleady found coon poo on our bridge that goes over the little creek. That isn't too far from where coop is.

 

[Judy]

I would add a latch and padlock.

 

[mmtillman]

I went camping once and had all the food stowed in coolers and plastic tubs....and thought they were coon proof...HA
If an animal is smart enough to wash its food before he eats and smart enough to know when to attack your chickens when you are not looking...then by all means ....assume a coon is smart enough to open a doorknob....

I have a personal dislike of them due to loosing 9 of my hens to a coon last year..dont trust them for a minute!!

 

[patandchickens]

Some cats can open doorknobs. So I would not count on it stopping a raccoon. As mmtillman says, put on a latch and padlock (you can hang the key right there so it's handy, just don't leave it *in* the lock is all)

GOod luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I don't have a doorknob. Door wasn't quite big enough for the opening, edged it with roofing tin. I just use the hasps for the locks to pull it open

 

[flopshot]

first of all a coon has to be able to reach the device to defeat it. secondly, no coon can work two devices at the same time so a pair of spring loaded devices would be foolproof. your existing knob is one and to add security
i like these with spring loaded carabiners or a padlock:
http://images.lowes.com/product/885785/885785985588.jpg

 

[ArizonaNessa]

Seems to me if you really wanted to just use the doorknob and not purchase a latch with a lock then just go to the local wal-mart type store and buy one of those doorknob covers for childproofing a door knob. It covers the knob and if you just try to turn it, it just spins round and round you have to mash each side of it in order for it to grasp the actual knob to be turned.

 

[Brelansmama]

From what I understand, if a coop is toddler proof....it will be coon proof....Sooooo, how about a child safty door knob cover?
I have them on all the doors that go outside in my house so my daughter doesn't get any smart ideas when I'm in the shower... http://www.target.com/Dream-Baby-Home-Safety-Kit/dp/B000W9JTQ0/qid=1241120556/ref=br_1_2/188-5362072-1739606?ie=UTF8&node=13020251&frombrowse=1&rh=&page=1

like the one in this link, it covers the knob, and you have to pinch it together to turn the knob.

 

[briana1975]

Thanks for all the replies. My husband likes that idea flopshot. But I already have some of those slip over door knob things in the house. So that is a free idea. Yet I have had 3 year olds open doors with those on before. So maybe not real toddler proof. We will see what my husband wants to do.

 

[SweetMissDaisy]

Quote:
This is what we also use, with a carabiner (a purple one to be exact!) -- hasn't been opened by a raccoon yet!