Coop door latch advice needed

[OnceAroundTheBlock]

I had a small coop made by our high school carpentry class and there are heavy-duty wired doors on either side of the coop. One door will be the entrance into the secured run, the other door apparently is where I am to slide out the metal tray for cleaning or allow them out to free range.

I am pretty nervous about the one door that will always be the easiest access by any predators like racoons, possums, etc. Here is a picture most resembling the type of sliding bolt latch they used but I'm sure there must be something more secure that I can replace it with.

Any other suggestions? Or can I add some kind of a lock in addition to using this type of latch? Thanks for any advice given.

 

[gryeyes]

I use the kind of latches that have a long flat bar with a slot in it which fits over a metal ring. Intended to have a lock secure it, but I use a screw type carabiner. NOT the snap type, but the kind you have to use your opposable thumb and forefinger to tighten and loosen to get the carabiner open.

This is a photo of the hardware on the very first coop I ever built allll by myself. puff puff pant puff puff

I'd show a better photo of the latch itself but I don't have one in my archives. Hopefully you can see what kind of latch and carabiner I'm talking about.

 

[feathersnuggles]

I have a sliding barrel bolt like yours, but it is larger and has a hole at the end where you can secure it with a padlock, or something. I don't want to hassle with a padlock, so each night I easily secure it with a dog leash clasp like this type:
http://www.keyosk.co.uk/images-products/pr-key-accessories-key-clips-belt-clip-dog-lead-clip.jpg

Here's a picture of the type of barrel bolt. And I use leash clip in place of padlock (the leash clip hangs on a chain next to the door):
http://pullig.dyndns.org/pics/barrel_bolt.jpg

 

[elmo]

I think you're right to be worried about that type of latch. With enough fiddling and rattling, a raccoon could open that.

 

[Schroeder]

 

[Schwartzfarmnc]

Quote:
X2
Exactly what I have installed and no way anything get's through it, only cost about $4.

 

[aoxa]

Quote:
X2
Exactly what I have installed and no way anything get's through it, only cost about $4.

I have the same one as well, but it was closer to $6 at home depot

 

[Schwartzfarmnc]

Quote:
X2
Exactly what I have installed and no way anything get's through it, only cost about $4.

I have the same one as well, but it was closer to $6 at home depot

Here is mine, but at Lowes it was right at $4.

 

[OnceAroundTheBlock]

Thanks all for the ideas. Tomorrow I'll take a picture of it and maybe once you see how little room I have on the door framing to add anything bigger, you can come up more ideas for me. I don't think there's even enough room for me to change styles.

I really do appreciate all of you taking the time to post.

 

[OnceAroundTheBlock]

Here's an actual picture of the coop latch. The picture is actually upside down...oops. I'm thinking about threading a piece of thick wire from side to side of the whole latch and twist it tightly to keep it from being so loose and prying fingers. I might not even have a problem with racoons because I haven't seen one in years, possums either.

Any better thoughts from you experienced folks? Thanks for any replies both current and past.