How would you make this opening predator proof?

[EmmaDonovan]

That`s a ton of them to worry about!

Competition for food is fierce in the desert. Everything wants a chicken dinner, or at least their eggs.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Alternatively, though not a desirable option, you could forget that door (cover it completely) and build your own secure door on the opposite side
Or build a double gate (think "dog park". Gate, containment area, second gate.)

I'm not sure how it'll fare with predators and winds, though
Looks like you aren't prone to snow/freezing, so that's good? I've known of those buckling in relatively light winters.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Alternatively, though not a desirable option, you could forget that door (cover it completely) and build your own secure door on the opposite side
Or build a double gate (think "dog park". Gate, containment area, second gate.)

I'm not sure how it'll fare with predators and winds, though
Looks like you aren't prone to snow/freezing, so that's good? I've known of those buckling in relatively light winters.

We sometimes get a light snow once or twice a year. We can get tornados. A tornado touched down not too far from here but we got the wind. It destroyed one of our earlier runs (we saved the hens by standing out in the storm and holding onto the coop for dear life).

A secure door brings me back to this. We'd have to build a wooden frame for it and it would sit against the door opening on the outside.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

We sometimes get a light snow once or twice a year. We can get tornados. A tornado touched down not too far from here but we got the wind. It destroyed one of our earlier runs (we saved the hens by standing out in the storm and holding onto the coop for dear life).

A secure door brings me back to this. We'd have to build a wooden frame for it and it would sit against the door opening on the outside.

View attachment 4272692

I understand the attraction, but they’re very heavy, and I would also imagine that it would be a challenge to keep it mounted level, plumb, and square in a metal run.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

I understand the attraction, but they’re very heavy, and I would also imagine that it would be a challenge to keep it mounted level, plumb, and square in a metal run.

Is there a smaller version of those things somewhere?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Is there a smaller version of those things somewhere?

Gosh, I don’t know, but I would think that they’d be in the typical range of door sizes.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Gosh, I don’t know, but I would think that they’d be in the typical range of door sizes.

I just hate the thought of building much right now. I'm not the builder, my roommate is and she does a good job but she takes a verrrrrrrry long time and we don't have that time. I like the idea of a hoop coop but passed on it in favor of a premade coop for that reason.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I just hate the thought of building much right now. I'm not the builder, my roommate is and she does a good job but she takes a verrrrrrrry long time and we don't have that time. I like the idea of a hoop coop but passed on it in favor of a premade coop for that reason.

In that case, I really do like the idea of framing the door opening with wood, with the wood serving as a doorstop when the door swings shut. Even 1x4 or 1x6 ought to work, depending on the gap you need to cover.

I’m just at a loss on how you would attach it, but I think someone above had a recommendation.