How paranoid is too paranoid?

[cheapcheepcheep]

Hi,
I am building my coop, and getting nervous about predators. My coop is along these lines: http://mychickencoopplans.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/How-To-Build-A-Chicken-Coop.jpg

I'm using pallets as the framing for the coop itself, and 2x4s for the run area. Where we live we have coyotes, raccoons, skunks, fisher cats (which I have seen), other sorts of weasels (which I have also seen 5am dog walks reveal all!), opossums, snakes, and of course cats and dogs. Probably others, but the ones I am very worried about are the fishers and weasels. I was thinking of running some electrical fencing along the base of the whole unit, just to be safe. I'm a little confused as to how the door works with electric fencing. I know there are special fixtures for unhooking it, but I'm having trouble getting my head around how that works.

What I had considered was to not have the door to the run be full-length. I thought it could be short, and have the bottom of the door be about a foot off the ground, so I would have to step over to get in. Would this be a huge pain? Are there better ways to secure the door? I know weasels can get into small spaces, so that's got me a little edgy. I figure if the door is higher up, it makes it hard to get at, especially if there's electric fence in the way.

 

[1muttsfan]

Half-inch hardware cloth will keep all the predators you mentioned out, as long as there are no gaps or holes in your defenses. Burying the fencing a foot underground helps too. My run doors are about 10" off the ground, which is better security but makes it hard to take a wheelbarrow in (not that that happens very often).

 

[cheapcheepcheep]

That's good to know. I'll keep thinking about the small door. I'm wondering if peace of mind is worth more than occasional wheelbarrow convenience.

 

[chefchick]

my run is made entirely of 1/2" hardware cloth and hub had the same problem when he built my door. he ended up making a wooden frame secured to one side of the coop, and ran a board along the ground so there is no space under the door. The door is wooden, and the insde of the frame is a little wider than the outside, so when it is closed, there are no gaps. the frame of our run is 1" pipe and steel fence posts with the hardware cloth zip tied every few inches. the top is chicken wire secured the same way. My girls are locked up at night so I dont worry too much about the nocturnal critters. We also ran the wire about two feet out from the coop and covered that with dirt instead of burying it. Works good so far.

 

[cheapcheepcheep]

Mine will be locked in the coop at night as well. This is all helping me to relax a little. But not too much. Eternal vigilance is the price of safe chickens!

 

[flewdacoop]

SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOT IT TO ME