Help! Hlp can I create a fortress?

[Stargeer2]

Hello everyone! I recently posted about losing 5/8 of my favorite hens while I was out of town, and it was brought to my attention that I probably do not have nearly as secure of a coop as I thought I did. Here are some pictures of what I currently have set up: what you can't see are the tent stakes driven down all around the perimeter at about 3" intervals, and bird netting covering the whole fenced area. I also had 2 7500 lumen lights lighting the fenced in area at night. These pictures are immediately following my discovery of my missing chickens, so forgive the mess... I want to get more chickens to hopefully make my 3 surviving chickens less depressed, but don't want to do that until I know they are safe and secure. What are your thoughts? If possible, relatively frugal recommendations are preferred as I am back in school and this not working as much as I was...

 

[DobieLover]

Hello everyone! I recently posted about losing 5/8 of my favorite hens while I was out of town, and it was brought to my attention that I probably do not have nearly as secure of a coop as I thought I did. Here are some pictures of what I currently have set up: what you can't see are the tent stakes driven down all around the perimeter at about 3" intervals, and bird netting covering the whole fenced area. I also had 2 7500 lumen lights lighting the fenced in area at night. These pictures are immediately following my discovery of my missing chickens, so forgive the mess... I want to get more chickens to hopefully make my 3 surviving chickens less depressed, but don't want to do that until I know they are safe and secure. What are your thoughts? If possible, relatively frugal recommendations are preferred as I am back in school and this not working as much as I was...

Until you can build something (much) better, I'd run hot wires around it.
They sell insulators for chain link fencing.
I'd run 4 strands all the way around it and use insulated gate handles on the run gate. Run the wires at 6", 12", 36" and 48" from the ground. If you have illumination down there, I assume you have power so I would use the plug-in variety of charger.
You will need to shelter the charger and ground it properly. I'd use a 10,000 volt charger to knock the crap out of whatever tries to scale the fence to get back in. You could have all this done in one day. If you don't do this today, you will need to lock those three you have left in a more secure area.
I personally am leaning towards a racoon or a family of them having scaled the fence and slipped under the netting.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is there anything over the chain link? Doesn't appear so. Ideally you don't want to have ANY openings larger than 1/2" so that means hardware cloth or small opening welded wire over the chain link and attached with j-clips, hog rings, or metal zip ties.

Not sure what the tent stakes are for, holding the pen in place or is that your version of an apron? You should install a real apron or hardware cloth or welded wire, either pinned to the ground or partially buried, ideally extending out 18" or so. That goes for the perimeter of the coop as well.

Do you know what type of predator you had? That might change things as well. For example, none of the above would stop a bear, you'd need electric for that.

 

[aart]

Hot wire is probably the best, quickest, and cheapest bet.
..as was suggested here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/lost-half-my-flock.1322014/

 

[quackersandfern]

Here is a good infographic on predator proofing your pen - http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/tips-for-protecting-poultry-from-predators

 

[starri33]

I would have to ask what kinda predator do you think you were dealing with, was there a bunch of feathers? bodies ? indication that something dug under or went over? any kids in the neighborhood that could have opened your door to the coop?

 

[Stargeer2]

Looks like they climbed over, so I'm thinking raccoon.. I spent all day today installing hardware cloth around the outside, 3' up, and then put a 2' wide apron around the base. Pictures are included. I also put hardware cloth at every gap I could find, and installed chicken wire over the bird netting on top. What do you guys think? I know it's not pretty, but does it appear more secure?

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's definitely an improvement (and I don't go for pretty, functional is what matters). At least now raccoons won't be able to reach in and simply rip a bird into pieces to get it out and larger digging predators should have a harder time getting in. Raccoons are sneaky buggers but sometimes it's enough to just deter them... I've seen evidence that they were giving the hardware cloth on my run a tug here and there but they couldn't breech it, so they moved on.

I would reinforce the hardware cloth-to-chain link connection by either adding zip ties throughout the body of it or (preferably) some sort of wire or metal fastener, just to make it as difficult as possible to pull away.

 

[50-45-1]

It looks better.
I would still lock the chickens inside the coop at night. I am not familliar with those coops to know if it is sturdy and tight enough for overnight, but during the night is when a chicken is most vunerable and also when most preditors will be coming around.
I open my coop up around 9 am and close when all chickens and guineas have gone to roost.
I can see and appreciate how much work you are doing to save your remaining birds.
You love them, i get it..i love mine too.
Best of luck!

 

[Rocky-Acres]

Looks like they climbed over, so I'm thinking raccoon.. I spent all day today installing hardware cloth around the outside, 3' up, and then put a 2' wide apron around the base. Pictures are included. I also put hardware cloth at every gap I could find, and installed chicken wire over the bird netting on top. What do you guys think? I know it's not pretty, but does it appear more secure?

Predators will dig under, climb up, or go through. Fly in, tug, pull and bite to gain entrance for a free meal. Keep all these in mind when reinforcing your pen. Rebar stakes help for the bottom. Wire the top securely. Always lock girls in at night. Wire on your house pen is attached on outside, make sure it can't be pulled off. Pre fab houses are cheaply built. Good luck