How to predator-proof this coop. Wwyd.

[K0k0shka]

I like believing raccoons can unlock my bank vault, set up a dining table inside, grill my chickens, and invite their family to a chicken dinner. Keeps me on my toes.

 

[Cryss]

I got the joke!
Raccoons are nimble and smart, but I'd never compare them to a human child.

Aw geez @aart ! I've read that comparison on BYC so many times but now it's not cool?
Bummer. I kinda liked it.

 

[K0k0shka]

I got the joke!
Raccoons are nimble and smart, but I'd never compare them to a human child.

Having to child proof cabinets and doors really shows you just how smart and nimble those little humans can be, and at what shockingly young ages, too! I don’t know about raccoons, but I’d fully expect to find even a 1-year-old inside the coop throwing carabiners at the chickens and grinning at me triumphantly while slurping raw eggs.

 

[K0k0shka]

Aw geez @aart ! I've read that comparison on BYC so many times but now it's not cool?
Bummer. I kinda liked it.

Must have been written by somebody who doesn’t have kids It’s okay, we forgive them.

 

[aart]

Aw geez @aart ! I've read that comparison on BYC so many times but now it's not cool?

There are a lot of inaccurate things posted over and over and over and over and over. <shrugs> but I was just funnin' along with @K0k0shka

 

[aart]

Having to child proof cabinets and doors really shows you just how smart and nimble those little humans can be, and at what shockingly young ages, too! I don’t know about raccoons, but I’d fully expect to find even a 1-year-old inside the coop throwing carabiners at the chickens and grinning at me triumphantly while slurping raw eggs.

My ~18mo son peeled off an outlet protector with a barrette and stuck said barrette into it. Was a shocker for sure.(no long term damage)

 

[K0k0shka]

My ~18mo son peeled off an outlet protector with a barrette and stuck said barrette into it. Was a shocker for sure.(no long term damage)

I'd expect anything from kids. Glad he was okay!

 

[BluebirdHomestead]

Ok y’all, I’ll reply to individual posts in a bit but I was wondering now if I move the roosting bars somehow so the aren’t lined up with the ventilation holes, maybe that would be easier than finding a new place for ventilation. What do you think??

 

[Ted_Harrell]

My ~18mo son peeled off an outlet protector with a barrette and stuck said barrette into it. Was a shocker for sure.(no long term damage)

Hair raising experience eh! Glad there was no permanent damage.

 

[K0k0shka]

You could move the roosts over closer to where the camera is in this photo (I assume that's your access door where you're taking the picture from?), so the closer roost is close to the door (I think 1 foot away was the optimum distance, but whatever you have room for that will give them room to maneuver), and the farther roost moves to where the closer roost currently is. Then you can open up big vents where the holes are now, and attach a vertical partition down from the ceiling to block off direct drafts blowing towards the chickens. Sort of like this:

Even better, close the holes currently across from the camera, open up a bigger vent where the holes on the left side wall are, and cut out another big vent across from them on the right side wall up near the top. So you get a cross breeze between the two walls to move air around, but nothing is blowing towards the roosts, and the partition should keep any remaining drafts from blowing on the chickens.