Does Aviary Netting protect from predators?

[clickdb]

Nice find! I would take two in a second! Haha.

 

[Binki]

Phew!!!!!!!!

I have finally finalized the plans for the aviary, I was wondering if I could run it by you guys and see if you can point out any flaws so I can fix them before I start as I don't have your experience!!

I will be making it out of 2x2 untreated spruce - 8 feet tall, 6 feet wide and 6 feet deep.

It will have joists every three feet to which I will attach those special poultry staples and the hardware cloth, essentially 3 feet by 6 feet panels all around making the frame

I need something to cover the hardware cloth seams with, a hardware store suggested 1x2" strapping which is like a long spruce panel. It's only 99 cents per 8 feet and would help keep raccoons from prying it open but if you can think of anything cheaper and safe for the birds like a thinner panel? I don't know if they come thinner or would that be too easy for a racoon to gnaw?

Also, I don't want to "waste" my expensive hardware cloth underground, we are placing the aviary on top of patio stones which will help with diggers but it needs to have an open bottom so we need to dig SOMETHING in the ground but we also want to move it later.

Is this a crazy idea - like a long metal sheet pounded horizontally into the ground along the bottom of the cage for diggers to hit if they get under the patio stones? Would siding be good? Double patio stones?

*how deep should the barrier be dug?

Thank you guys

 

[Alaskan]

I think it sounds very good!

Metal siding could work, or patio stones... I am not sure how deep they need to be since The only digging predator I have is dogs. For dogs I only do one foot below ground, and check frequently.

 

[Binki]

Thanks Alaskan

I know I have raccoons but I don't believe they're much of a digger? Please correct me if I'm wrong

We do have coyotes but have a fenced in yard... I don't expect a problem from them, they've very shy BUT I do have a trail right behind my house. I used to see them a few times a week sometimes and now haven't spotted one in a few months

I'm wondering about weasels? I haven't spotted any but I'm sure they're around, does anybody know how they dig to get at food?

I don't expect too big of a problem but we do have the forest and trail and wildlife and I hear they don't just kill one bird they kill them ALL and I'm also having the chickens able to connect to there from their coop (locked up at night).

The coop we bought from TSC doesn't seem racoon proof, especially the latch.. Like the wood just seems light and there's gaps where I think a racoon could grip on and pull but I am also thinking why the hell would they sell outdoor chicken coops that weren't predator proof? It uses hardware cloth but tiny staples, feels strong to me but I'm not a raccoon lol shouldn't it be those large gauge poultry staples??

 

[Alaskan]

I don't have to worry about raccoons... Which sure is nice.

The weasel family will use premade holes... I don't think that they would dig more than one foot down. They usually squeeze themselves into the coop.

I have heard that some staples aren't strong enough, and need to be tacked down with a thin strip of wood.

 

[Folly's place]

The prefab coops that I've seen have been cute but useless. Please believe us when we recommend sturdy construction! Fence staples (minimum 3/4 inch or longer) with 1"x4" wood screwed over the top, will be effective. If it looks flimsy, it won't protect your birds from raccoons or dogs. Build strong and large, or rebuild later. Mary

 

[Binki]

Thank you guys experienced advice - so appreciated!! We plan on getting pretty close to the chickens especially the first few months when they're in the house a lot as chicks so as you all know it would be heartbreaking to have any loss, let alone the whole flock... :S!!

We are going to secure it as suggested and will have a camera set up at night and can have a few months to bait the coop to test for predators before putting the chickens in

 

[Folly's place]

You will have a huge dust problem with chicks in the house. Bad dust! Outside or the garage will be best, after no more than two or three weeks. Mary

 

[Binki]

Wow Mary thanks for the heads up - I was totally unaware of chick dust, I've raised several birds in my room this summer alone and it's been fine but then again there were only three max at a time and they were a fraction of the size of chickens!!

Lol I looked it up, sounds so awful! We do have a breezeway attached to a garage so we will be sure to utilize those ASAP