Illinois...

[SnootyHen]

I have not seen a live weasel since around 2013 and the dog was chasing it... Big surprise because I didn't think they were around.. Found ones the dog killed and less than a month ago one got hit on the road in front of the house.

Coons dug under my neighbor's deck and got into the wall of the addition.

I used to have pet ferrets but I've never seen a weasel in the wild either. I think if my dogs brought me one I'd be surprised too! Those coons are just too crafty for their own good (or ours)! They're probably the most likely thing to get through my fence into the yard while the dogs are in the house at night.

 

[Molpet]

I used to have pet ferrets but I've never seen a weasel in the wild either. I think if my dogs brought me one I'd be surprised too! Those coons are just too crafty for their own good (or ours)! They're probably the most likely thing to get through my fence into the yard while the dogs are in the house at night.

My profile pic is the weasel the dog was after. I was looking out the window and seen this weird looking ground squirrel running like a ferret from a shed.... the dog was looking around for something he was after. It was not a ground squirrel that went up a tree and poised. Not the least bit afraid of me. Definitely not a ferret, I have had those too.

 

[SnootyHen]

My profile pic is the weasel the dog was after. I was looking out the window and seen this weird looking ground squirrel running like a ferret from a shed.... the dog was looking around for something he was after. It was not a ground squirrel that went up a tree and poised. Not the least bit afraid of me. Definitely not a ferret, I have had those too.

Crazy!!!!

 

[cavemanrich]

Looking at the product, is it worth it for me to just order the extra pieces of the predator prevention from this company? Or would burying hardware cloth be just as good? Or is there something similar I can get somewhere else? I hate to give them any more business after how poorly the entire thing was handled but I also want to make sure my girls are safe and don't want to leave any openings.

Also, one of the 4' sides was originally going to be against the coop so it has a big hole where the chicken door would have been. We're using that piece as part of the run because my new coop is tall enough to not need it. What would you cover that opening with to make sure it's secure? Hardware cloth? Something stronger?

I would use the pieces you already have, but not worry about the small area that will be unprotected. If you do see efforts of animals trying to dig under, then treat remainder of perimeter. Not all predators succeed on first try digging under. Some will try and decide not worth the effort.
Your predator assortment is similar to what I have. We do have a few coyotes running around. There was a fox seen in the area. Naturally no shortage of raccoons.
I would not worry too much about the coyotes. They would prefer to jump/climb over top rather than dig under. I don't think they would want to get involved in digging, if there are possible other meals around. (squirrels, opossum, rabbits, rodents,and feral cats)
A fox, I would think would not likely focus on your coop/run, if there is other food available. (same as for coyote) People that do encounter fox problems, are usually individuals with larger flocks, and live where fox populations are high. Your chances of a fox encounter are not very high.
Raccoons,,,,, well yes, they like chicken,, just like most other living things including us humans. These urban raccoons are after getting into trash and eating leftover dinners, rather than trying to dig into a coop. They will try to get into coop area, if it is relatively easy. I don't thing digging is in their plans, except as last resort if no other food available. Yes, I know that raccoons have made their way into peoples' attics, and crawl spaces. Often times chewing thru plywood and such. It is in an effort to find winter housing for the season, as well as to raise family. A chicken coop, seeking a meal would not likely be an occurrence.
Opossum would be of little concern. Small ones that would get thru small opening, are not dangerous. Large ones that would get into a coop that would be accidentally left open for the night,, well that is somewhat different situation.
I have plenty opossum around my area, and never had a loss by them.

The panel with that opening you mention,, hardware cloth well secured is sufficiently strong enough. You can use a mess of zipties, or weave wire to connect HC to opening. As long as you can not push out with your hand, nether will another predator animal. They do not go to the extreme of knowing to chew thru plastic securing ties.

Now to the subject of free-ranging,,,
Everyone is in their own circumstances, and situations. The chickens do not need to be out most of the day, but be out in yard with you,,,, as your dogs are safely inside home. You can be enjoying some cool/cold Iced tea, and sitting enjoying the outdoors while watching your chickens. Is your yard secure enough to keep neighbors dogs out if you are in your yard??? I have friends that live in your direction. They are not allowed to build fences. I don't think they are allowed to have chickens ether.

 

[Justso]

On a sad note, Darling left the nest today. It looks like her only egg hatched. I found a dead lav orp in the run. It was still wet from hatching. Not sure if Darling did it or if the chick was discovered by another hen when Darling was off the nest. And why would she leave just as the chick hatched???

Not sure if I should move another chick under her. (She's back in the nest now.) This hatch was supposed to be hers.

She probably knew there was something wrong with the chick? That's what I would tell myself.

 

[Justso]

Clinton Illinois checking in..... Hey...anybody local that knows how to get a duck to take medicine out of a syringe is welcome to come visit.

Welcome!

 

[Justso]

I have a run question and I hate to post it in the coop forum because I feel like every time I post there I get responses that are either not helpful, not responsive or just snotty. But I'm a first timer and have a lot of dumb questions.

So the run I bought that attaches to the coop is pretty cool and I want to use it even though I cancelled the coop part of the order to build my own. The original one was 8' x 4' but since some of the pieces arrived damaged, they are sending me an additional two 8' pieces and one 4' side. The guy helping me says he can bang out the damaged ones and use them which means I can have a 12' x 8' run which is awesome!! I bought the predator protection pieces that are in this link but because the run was 8x4 I only have 2 8s and 2 4s.

https://chickencondos.com/predator-digging-prevention-bars-single-bars.html

Looking at the product, is it worth it for me to just order the extra pieces of the predator prevention from this company? Or would burying hardware cloth be just as good? Or is there something similar I can get somewhere else? I hate to give them any more business after how poorly the entire thing was handled but I also want to make sure my girls are safe and don't want to leave any openings.

Also, one of the 4' sides was originally going to be against the coop so it has a big hole where the chicken door would have been. We're using that piece as part of the run because my new coop is tall enough to not need it. What would you cover that opening with to make sure it's secure? Hardware cloth? Something stronger?

And since I'm here, here's what's done so far!
View attachment 2181485

Thanks for helping a newbie out!!

Just my two cents but one thing I suggest you do is to secure your chicken wire and hardware cloth with fender washers. Screw them in every few feet.

 

[Molpet]

Had my first predator losses since I was a kid. 5 poults missing
5 turkeys with 6poults refuse to go in the coop and have been sleeping out in the tall weeds. This morning they only have one poult. A nest a different one has started the egg was eaten. All the nest dog houses in the yard have been ransacked. The box trap was tripped.
Dog proof traps on order.
I think they are coming in by the tree highway.

I have 7 other poults in 2 coops.

 

[Faraday40]

My flock is really enjoying the cicadas. Darling is even teaching her chicks how to eat them. Very entertaining!

 

[SnootyHen]

Now to the subject of free-ranging,,,
Everyone is in their own circumstances, and situations. The chickens do not need to be out most of the day, but be out in yard with you,,,, as your dogs are safely inside home. You can be enjoying some cool/cold Iced tea, and sitting enjoying the outdoors while watching your chickens. Is your yard secure enough to keep neighbors dogs out if you are in your yard??? I have friends that live in your direction. They are not allowed to build fences. I don't think they are allowed to have chickens ether.

Great information -- thank you!!!

MOST of the dogs in my neighborhood are well controlled and stay in their own yards well enough. I have one neighbor with about 257 chihuahuas that love to go under my fence. Initially they could fit through the bars or would dig under and the neighbors (after we returned their dogs over and over) wired HWC to their side of our fence which their dogs got through but not as much (I think it was an installation weakness more than a problem with the HWC) and they propped it up with other things. It's a mess. When they do get in my yard, it makes my dogs crazy because they look like squirrels or cats to my huskies. Thankfully, they are good with "leave it" but it taxes their every instinct to allow another critter in their yard. And if I were ever not there to yell to them, the dogs likely wouldn't make it home. I have explained that to my neighbors as kindly as I can because I am an animal lover and don't want to see anyone's pet killed or hurt. But I also can't stand seeing bad owners who put their pets in jeopardy by allowing that situation. My dogs will always defend their yard because that's what they do.

So I guess the short version is that my biggest worry with dogs is those chihuahuas next door. My dogs will keep them out but if I have my dogs in the house, there's nothing to keep the chihuahuas out. One of my dogs has assigned herself the chicken nanny and I am hoping she can )with time and training) be trusted to help keep them safe in the yard while I am there with them but so far she's only allowed supervised visits through the coop.