Fencing Help

[Peppercorngal]

Remember, once they settle in for the night they pretty much don’t move again until it’s light out. Even if a predator did get into the run and takes a chicken, the others probably wouldn’t try to make it into the coop in the dark.

I really like saying goodnight to everyone and closing them in for the night. Since I’ve moved mine outdoors I’ve had to come in on the “late boat” ferry and couldn’t get to them until 11pm, I still stumbled out halfway into the field to count heads and close their doors for them. They did NOT appreciate my headlamp when I stuck my head in the door to check on them, much indignant squawking ensued.

I'm with you, I do a chicken count every night and lock the run door. The door to leave the coop is always left open so they can go out and get food and water early in the morning if they want. I am not a morning person and they don't get let out to free range until about 9am!

 

[Kris5902]

I let mine out between 7&8am... it doesn’t get light enough out any earlier yet... if I had power I’d be looking into the automatic doors for sure! My run area of the chicken tractors isn’t nearly predator proof though, so leaving the door open isn’t really an option for me.

I hope to have a “proper” coop for this coming winter... building inspection department depending.

 

[bruceha2000]

The PulletShut door can be purchased with a battery and solar charger for it, no "piped in" power needed.

 

[WELDON99]

OK, I've had chickens for about 3-4 years and have not lost any to predators! Mine do not free range but have spacious coops. I simply built a framework out of 2x4's and covered the sides with chicken wire mesh. Did not bury anything but have not had any problems with anything trying to dig in. They all have a roof (tin) and secluded nesting boxes. Over time, I have expanded my original run to 6 different runs/coops and hen houses. I live in the middle of forest along the Texas/Louisiana border. I would mention that I have cats and dogs that patrol my entire property and they do watch over my chickens! I feed mine with Purina Layna pellets and cracked corn. Also supplement with vegetable and bread scraps from the kitchen. This started as a hobby for my wife but has turned into a small, but not profitable, business, selling yard eggs. My hope is that I can get to the point of just breaking even!

I enjoy my chickens, as they definitely have a personality! I've got it set up where I can leave for up to 3 days with out having to worry about food and water for them. I have plans to where I can extend that up to about a week. Neighbors are happy to collect eggs for me if I'm gone

At the present, I have Bantams (several mixed breeds), Gold Stars, Bahamas, Easter Eggers, Frizzled Cochins and Sulky's! I also have a small Red Breasted Jap (Don't ask me where it came from! I just noticed it's tail feathers resembled those of a turkey and just recently, found out what it was!!). All together, I have around 30 chickens, but too many roosters!

 

[Tony O.]

Hi guys,

The only consideration here is that raccoons are mostly nocturnal as far as I know, so maybe as long as the chickens are safely inside the coop before dark they would be safe, without having to have a buried fence and a roof? The only chicken we ever lost (except for one juvenile who was free ranging and just never came back) was at night in that unsecured coop.

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My fencing is 7 and 1/2 to 8 feet high. Keeps animals from jumping over it. I like the idea of electric around the top. That should keep climbing animals from climbing over it. Make it easy on your self. Instead of burring the fence wire, (That will rust anyway in a few years) get a 2 foot wide 1 X 2 inch welded wire and lay it under the fence. Have 6 to 8 inches on the inside to keep your birds from making holes to close to it. The rest laying on the outside. Connect it to the bottom of the fence. Any digging predators that try digging under it will hit the wire and after a while, give up. They aren't smart enough to back up to dig. Has worked for me for over 25 years.

 

[charliewhiskey]

I like to use 48" chicken wire folded in half on the bottom of the fence. This way, 24" of wire can be buried a few inches under the ground all around the pen and it sticks out away from the pen. Varmits get wire everywhere when they begin to dig. Use wire on top of the run or shade cloth. Make sure they are secured at night. There is no other measure more effective to keep your birds alive. Here, we have coyotes, racoons, oppossums, neighbor's dogs, my dog, hawks, owls, eagles, etc. I have experience with predators.

 

[Magpie1]

Hi guys,

I live in western Washington, and I'm planning on getting some chickens. I have a million questions, but my first is about fencing. When I was a kid we had chickens, and (like most people I imagine) we lost a hen to a raccoon one night because my dad left the coop door open. I was 5-6 at the time, and I still have vivid memories of following the trail of feathers and little blood drops until we found one of her legs. Needless to say, I never want to have this happen again. I am terrified.

Ultimately, will my chickens not be safe unless the fence is buried and has a roof on it? Because I don't see what's to prevent the raccoons from just climbing inside the fenced area, effectively trapping the chickens in a space with predators.

The only consideration here is that raccoons are mostly nocturnal as far as I know, so maybe as long as the chickens are safely inside the coop before dark they would be safe, without having to have a buried fence and a roof? The only chicken we ever lost (except for one juvenile who was free ranging and just never came back) was at night in that unsecured coop.

I truly wish I had all the money in the world. I wouldn't hesitate to spend it if I felt I could in good conscience, but I've gotten a quote from a fence builder and he said he'd do a plain fence for $750, while the buried roofed version was $2,100+. I honestly shouldn't even spend the $750, but I'm terrified of my chickens running off into the woods and getting eaten by a coyote or something. I'll spend the $2,100 if I have to, but I don't want to do it if it's just my worries getting the best of me, and it's really unnecessary.

Can someone tell me if my fears are founded or if I'm just an excessive worrier? Do I need to do the complete enclosure, or would just a plain fence be fine, because if I spend $750 on a fence that doesn't work, I've wasted $750.

My coop is in the part of my yard where the lawn meets the forest, so just barely into the trees. It's great for shade and some protection from the rain/snow, but I worry that predators are more likely to be there because it is more secluded.

Also, I know a lot of people use electric fencing. Would having that eliminate the need for a roof or for the fence to be buried, or is it just added protection? I hadn't even thought about it until recently, so any insight is much appreciated.

You can buy netting on Amazon fairly cheaply and put that over your run. Bury the wire for your run at least 6" into the ground. I have a large run, covered by netting with the wire buried. I usually leave everything open into an orchard, but as my recent post says, we have had skunk issues. Try as you might, some birds will be lost to predators. It's easy to get complacent and think your birds are safe. Yay for you if you never lose any.

 

[AmyJane725]

The pricing on Amazon for hardware cloth is fantastic! And free prime shipping is pretty sweet

 

[Aji Dulce]

Go for the most secure. It’s expensive but so good for your peace of mind. There’s no such thing as “almost” predator proof. You might lose some to a predator attack then you’ll go back and do the next phase of what was expensive in the first place. We did a secure coop, even padlocked, put a roof over the run with hardware cloth, hardware cloth apron 2 ft out all around, overhead wildlife netting over top of their pasture area, and electric poultry netting around all of it.

 

[aart]

The pricing on Amazon for hardware cloth is fantastic! And free prime shipping is pretty sweet

For those who don't have Prime....
You don't need Prime for free shipping on HC,
the cost is above the $35-40 minimum for free shipping,
at least it was a couple years ago - the last time I bought some.