Just got some chickens this weekend. Figured I would post some pics and introduce myself.

[Kerbouchard]

Ok, so what is hardware cloth. Also, my idea on dig proof was to dig a two ft deep, inch or so wide perimeter, fill it with quik-Crete and some water. Seems like it would be pretty sturdy, fool proof, and easy on labor and costs.

Also, I don't think I will add solid walls until winter. I will reinforce the wire, but I built it strong. Even with tin snips, it would take me an hour or more to 'break in' and grab one. I would also end up cut to pieces doing it.

If I end up being wrong, I'll patent a better chicken wire... I mean, why sell chicken wire if it can't keep things out?

 

[Kerbouchard]

Oh, and by 'dig', I actually mean using a drill with a bit and an extension bit. I'll add some heavier duty wire based on your guys advice. Still unsure why they build and sell stuff that doesn't work but I will yield to your guys expertise. Obviously, you have seen more than me.

In any case, with the temperatures we get, I'm going to try not enclosing them first.

During the day, they will free range the backyard. If/when, I lose one to a predator it will probably be hard, and I may rethink from there.

For now, they are for pest control and I've seen a noticeable drop off in grasshoppers since we've had them. The video in the OP was taken in my backyard.

Even if I lost all 4, that would still have cost less than all the baits, dusts, and sprays I wasted on trying to slow down the apocalypse for the rest of you guys.

Obviously, the plan is to lose none of them. From reading on this forum, my expectations may be unrealistic.

 

[Padronalisa]

Predators will try to get in wherever there is a weak spot. Some will chew through chicken wire. But wherever they can get in they will. We've had a huge problem with them here and I am just now getting to a point where I feel my birds are secure, but I still lock them in every night just in case.

Our previous flock was all killed last year by predators. Some combination of hawks, owls, foxes, raccoons and our own dogs. I took over and dug a trench this spring and buried wire all along the outside of our run about 18" deep, rebuilt the run structure, covered it all in heavy duty wire. Once the birds/ food were in there, animals started to make attempts to get in.
First a pullet was pulled through the fence in one of the corners. We doubled up all corners in heavy duty wire. Then we started finding dig marks around the outside (they couldn't get in because of the buried wire) so we lined the outside perimeter with the biggest rocks we could find. Then something climbed in through a hold in the old wire up about 3ft high and tried to eat out of the feeder. So we went around and inspected and patched every part where the wire overlapped and made sure there is not a single hole. In hindsight, it should have been done before the birds went in, but I was so focused on foxes being the main problem, I never even thought it would be raccoons too, and both hit in the same week.

Keep an eye on it, walk around the perimeter of your coop every morning and watch for things trying to get in. I think the cement trench sounds like a great idea. The stronger and sturdier the better. Once animals know that your birds are there they will expose the weak spots if there are any.

And I think your coop looks great! Very cool design. I am wondering if you could build some sort of removable outside panels and take them off in the summer. You can probably get away with not putting walls up till fall as long as they can go inside somewhere at night and have perches to sit on. Birds that sleep on the ground or leaned up against the wire are the easiest targets. Good luck!

 

[Kerbouchard]

A few years from now(weeks/months?), I will probably look back on how naive I am being. I hope not. I like to take pride in the quality of my work. Like I said, you guys' have convinced me that I have underestimated the predators out there and I will make improvements. Hopefully, this weekend is soon enough.

And yes, the original plan was to install custom panels to the outside that would be fairly simple to install and remove based on weather.

I'll keep working on it. And thank all of you so much for your posts and insight. I learn fast, but there is no substitute for your experience. I appreciate it.

 

[Kerbouchard]

I picked up some hardware cloth and some extra lumber. Will be reinforcing it tomorrow.

Honestly, didn't know hardware cloth was just a tighter type of wire.