How to predator-proof this coop. Wwyd.

[BluebirdHomestead]

Hi there. New around here. Just moved to a 1.5 acre lot that has an existing coop that I’d like to fix up. Wwyd to predator-proof this? I’m in Colorado near Longmont, raccoons, foxes, birds of prey, maybe even a wandering bear.
The run just has normal chicken wire on it. Do I need to do a sturdier hardware cloth? What about hot wire?
Thanks in advance! Want to get ahead of this so it’s ready for spring.

 

[sealer39]

Looks like an easy project. 1/2” hardware cloth everywhere there is chicken wire and buried along the sides and you’re good to go. I’d add better ventilation too.

Also, I’d add either an access door on the opposite side or double doors on the back for easy access. Maybe some exterior nest boxes to give the birds more room on the inside.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

Looks like an easy project. 1/2” hardware cloth everywhere there is chicken wire and buried along the sides and you’re good to go. I’d add better ventilation too.

Thank you! So rip off the chicken wire and replace it with hardware cloth? And how would you improve the ventilation? I’m not very handy so any links and ideas are helpful.

 

[sunrise.superman]

Nice bit of existing coop to start with! I'm just north of you in Loveland. I'm rebuilding a coop now, putting a bit more ventilation at the top and covering part of my run with the clear plastic corrugated looking stuff...otherwise I end up with a wee little ice rink on the wet and then suddenly cold days. The hardware cloth replacing chicken wire and a buried apron should deter mosy predators. And good latches on the doors. Not much will thwart a bear. We're having quite a few bear visitors coming down as well.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

Looks like an easy project. 1/2” hardware cloth everywhere there is chicken wire and buried along the sides and you’re good to go. I’d add better ventilation too.

Also, I’d add either an access door on the opposite side or double doors on the back for easy access. Maybe some exterior nest boxes to give the birds more room on the inside.

Oh also, there are 2 nesting boxes on the back! They stick out a foot and are each 2.5’ wide and open from the top.

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

Nice bit of existing coop to start with! I'm just north of you in Loveland. I'm rebuilding a coop now, putting a bit more ventilation at the top and covering part of my run with the clear plastic corrugated looking stuff...otherwise I end up with a wee little ice rink on the wet and then suddenly cold days. The hardware cloth replacing chicken wire and a buried apron should deter mosy predators. And good latches on the doors. Not much will thwart a bear. We're having quite a few bear visitors coming down as well.

Hello fellow Coloradan! Do you think adding hot wire is worth it to deter bears?
I’ll have to look into adding better ventilation as well. Replacing all the latches is a good idea.

 

[sealer39]

I edited my above post if you didn’t see it already.

Ventilation: You cut a square or rectangle hole in the wall and frame the hole on the inside of the coop. You sandwich hardware cloth between the frame and the wall. You then frame the cut out piece and the outside of the wall. Then the cut out piece attaches back to the hole with hinges. Here is a pic of one on a tractor I built.

 

[sunrise.superman]

Hello!

Never hurts to add a bit of electricity. I'm adding to to mine as well...more for my own dogs on the one entrance, but racoons are the worst where I am. More frequently anyway. It might help w bear if you have a serious charger on it.

 

[janiedoe]

Lucky you! Good move.
If I were you, I'd cover the whole thing with 1/2 hardware cloth sides and top and then add metal sheets to cover the entire top. This would allow you to put waterers and feeders in the run area during the day. And of course for diggers, the buried hardware cloth all around or an apron. Looks like an fun and easy project.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Not a bad unit to start with. I agree with supplementing the chicken wire with hardware cloth or welded wire, no wider than 1/2", and aproning it out which should work against most predators and pests. Hotwire if bears are an issue. I'd also give some thought to roofing it, which would then allow you to add plenty of ventilation on the wall facing the inside of the run, as the roof would provide protection.