Help -chicken coop and safety

[Veronicakp]

Hey so I’ve been having problems all year with predators taking my chickens, I’m naming like hawks, eagles, opossums, wild house cats ext’
I’m looking for cheap ways to make my coop area safer for my chickens, I’m getting very upset with loosing so many to wildlife. And I know it happens.

but for this post I would really love some advice to a cheap way to put something over the whole fencing to the back of the barn, I have tried traps and I am not able to catch this animal.
Please help with good advice and I know my coop area looks messy but I had cleaned it 2 days ago.

 

[Willowspirit]

My first suggestion is that you consider a game camera to find out what is getting them.

My second is that you consider covering the coop with electric netting. You are fortunate to not have to put poles in for it. Amazon has it but it’s spendy.

We created a covered run for our d'Uccles using wire sheep fencing and zip ties to attach it. It’s working for us because we have a low predator load. They sleep in a closed coop.

I know others will show up with suggestions soon.

 

[Rooapalooza]

Bird net isn't very expensive and will keep hawks/eagles out. For possums, you'll need to put hardware cloth/chicken wire or something on the ground around the perimeter so they can't dig. You'd also need to secure the net on top tightly so they can't climb around it.
Personally I prefer to use thicker multi-purpose netting rather than bird net; it's a bit more expensive but doesn't tear or tangle the way bird net does. You can get either online or at tractor supply. The bird net there is like $20 for 100' (7' wide, I think) and the thicker net is around $50. If you go with bird net, I'd have someone there to help you; it catches on everything and if you get frustrated, you might tear it (speaking from experience).

I can't tell the dimensions of your area, is it just the first part where they are free ranging? Are you only losing birds during the day?

 

[lrballard]

We created a chicken run outside the coop. It has field fencing covered with a hard mesh with small holes that cover the run and under the dirt so no one can dig underneath. If we get a hawk or other predator in the area, we keep them in the run for 2-3 weeks until the predator gives up and leaves the area. So far (knowck on wood) we haven't lost one.