Keeping my chicks safe

[delmy]

nails or staples? Best to use heavy staples on that stuff, or use washers with nails/screws.

We drilled it with nails, the wood is 3 quarters thick

 

[centrarchid]

What is your budget?

 

[delmy]

What is your budget?

Around 100$ for making the house cost

 

[centrarchid]

Tight.

In addition to advise already given, get birds to sleep away from pen walls and potentially floor. You not want raccoons to get within 18" of roosting birds, otherwise they are likely to challenge your improvements.

Picture of your setup would be nice.


Based on your initial description, you are dealing with more than one raccoon that is of adult dimensions. Consider traps.

 

[delmy]

Tight.

In addition to advise already given, get birds to sleep away from pen walls and potentially floor. You not want raccoons to get within 18" of roosting birds, otherwise they are likely to challenge your improvements.

Picture of your setup would be nice.


Based on your initial description, you are dealing with more than one raccoon that is of adult dimensions. Consider traps.

What kind of traps would be recommended? We have a small light inside the house, would that scare the raccoon away?

 

[jeria]

Sorry a small light won't scare a coon.

 

[centrarchid]

Duke Dog Proof Traps, based on your budget, you could get two for $30. A single live trap cost $35 to $45. Hotwire option could be done for under $100, just barely. Raccoons can become trapwise. Other trap options possible although I do not use them.

 

[Binki]

What kind of wire is it? Want to make sure it's not some stronger looking, smaller hole chicken wire because I hear raccoons can chew through it.

It needs to be hardware cloth wire (sold at TSC) to keep out predators with strong and sharp teeth.

You could test out your reinforcements by putting yummy smelly food in the coop instead of the birds at night and see what damage the raccoons do in the morning?

Yes pictures would really help

 

[delmy]

What kind of wire is it? Want to make sure it's not some stronger looking, smaller hole chicken wire because I hear raccoons can chew through it.

It needs to be hardware cloth wire (sold at TSC) to keep out predators with strong and sharp teeth.

You could test out your reinforcements by putting yummy smelly food in the coop instead of the birds at night and see what damage the raccoons do in the morning?

Yes pictures would really help

What kind of wire is it? Want to make sure it's not some stronger looking, smaller hole chicken wire because I hear raccoons can chew through it.

It needs to be hardware cloth wire (sold at TSC) to keep out predators with strong and sharp teeth.

You could test out your reinforcements by putting yummy smelly food in the coop instead of the birds at night and see what damage the raccoons do in the morning?

Yes pictures would really help

Would the hardware cloth guarantee predators from not chewing the wire and able to take my chicks?

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

It needs to be hardware cloth wire (sold at TSC) to keep out predators with strong and sharp teeth.

Sold at Home Depot and Lowes, too. Probably cheaper at those two places.