Is chicken wire racoon and Cayote proof?

[TaconChicks]

I'm in Central Texas and have 11 hens.

Thanks to some new development that recently started a couple miles away, we are starting to get racoons and cayotes in my neighborhood. I have decided to build a new coop and an enclosed run area for my hens. I know I need to bury the wiring on all sides to prevent digging.

Since the girls have been free ranging in a 1000 sq ft area right now, I am planning to make their run area (which they will live in all the time, along with the coop) about 400 sq ft. I know technically they don't need that much space, but any type of confinement will be a change for them.

Is chicken wire adequate for the sides of the run, or do I need to splurge and get hardware cloth? (And if I need hardware cloth, is there any place to get it at a reasonable price?)

Thank you!!!!!

 

[SSO202]

No, the chicken wire is not suffiecient enough protection. You should use some type of welded wire or hardware cloth and then the chicken wire over that wire. You should bury it 12 inches or more in the ground. I dug the trench around my 8'x10' run about 12 inches down. I then backfilled it with logs, rocks and dirt. The chicken wire is laid out flat about 12 inches and then up and over the run. I fastened the two together with black wire ties. You can never have enough protection from the nasty predators!!! Good Luck!!!

 

[cmom]

I have seen many post that say do not use chicken wire. I use it. I have many critters around here, possums, foxes, hawks, racoons and cayotes. I have never lost a bird yet to preditors.

 

[Melilem]

I have no coyotes, but chicken wire works great on racoons..and I caught one recently that had to have weighed 40 pounds. It is important to have a high enough fence with serious support though, not those wimpy green metal posts. Also, a chicken coop with a door that latches at night is key.

 

[TaconChicks]

Thank you for the info! I am planning to build a wood frame for the run area and to have it covered. (Some solid roofing, some wire roofing)

 

[wyliefarms]

If your chickens go into a building at night with a door then chicken wire is good since raccoons come out at night.

I have only seen 1 coyote during the day. I don't think it could get through the wire. And all the chickens would run into the building for protection if one came by. I would make sure the fence posts are T-posts and the fencing is tall enough and has a top to prevent something from jumping in.
Either bury a fence or put some sort of barrier on the outside of the cage so an animal could dig under the fence. Stepping stones, cinder blocks etc.

We have lost meat chickens that live in an outside movable cage. The coon reached right in and grab the sleeping chickens. Our solution was to wrap another off set role of chicken wire around the cage and we haven't had another problem and it has been 2 years.

Good luck!

 

[cmom]

Quote:
Just click on a picture for a larger image.
Here are pictures of my run. I used 2x2's, 2x4's and chicken wire on the top too. I have a fenced in range area with chicken wire for my birds. I leave the coop pop door open and the run gate open 24 hrs a day. These pictures were taken a long time ago when I was using the bird netting around their range areas.

 

[CUDA]

Chicken wire will NOT keep out predators like coons, and cyotes. They will rip right through it if they want, and you can take that to the bank.

 

[deerman]

Coated Chicken wire, may help. but best to run a electric wire around the bottom. When you bury chicken wire it will rust within a year.

 

[1Speckled Hen w/Chicks]

I agree with deerman--
I have several rows of electric wires running around the perimeter of the coop and tractor!