Keeping the raccoons out - are cable ties strong enough?

[the4heathernsmom]

I used zip ties outside on the top plastic netting to cover my run for my escapee game hens and I also use this pen for the teen age babies. I went through 2 super value packages of cheap zip ties from walmart yes like a zillion of them to join and secure the top plastic to wire sides. I live in east texas, hot humid weather, cold weather, rained huge amounts this year, and I have major racoon issues!!! Killed three this year as matter of fact, not one was able to get through the top and that is where they go to first and I don't have hard wire or metal wire underneath the plastic. I covered for hawks and cats mostly. The zips are holding great no deterioration sp? no degrading of them at all and it has been a year and I used cheapy cheapy ones. oh well just my two cents there.

 

[patandchickens]

It would be a whole lot smarter to use cage clips or hog rings. Raccoons are NOT pulling THOSE apart, and they do not degrade in the weather. The price difference (in total #dollars) is small, the difference in security is HUGE.

Not so much an issue in a very big run and coop, but with an Eglu, where there is *never* much space between your birds and the predators, I would absolutely use the metal fasteners NOT cable/zip ties.

JMHO, good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[ISSOLA]

Quote:
Yes - i have that at my house too, as well as the special pliers. My husband had wanted to place that on the eglu wire, but I find that it may be very difficult to remove them. We had used these metal clips on our previous wooden chicken coop. It works great. However, I plan in future to dissemble the eglu cube, clean, or even extend the run (with the run extension omlet has). Removing these metal clips may be a royal pain in the rear.

Perhaps in future I would use the metal clips. But for now, those zip ties are doing their job.

Cheers!

 

[Ernie]

Anybody know how the black cable ties fare when buried? I'm using some to basically extend how far down my trenched hardware cloth goes (attaching another piece to the bottom of what is coming down from the framing). All of the connections will be buried.

 

[halo]

I used zip ties from Lowes when I set up my first coop 2 years ago, and never thought they might degrade, especially in our hot Florida weather. I just went out and tested them and they are as strong as when I first put them up. So I would feel comfortable using them. Wouldnt hurt to strategically reinforce the seams with wire if you're so inclined, but I can tell you my zip ties are holding fine, and they arent the black ones, they are the white ones.

 

[TreeHugger]

I use zip ties - the black ones will hold up & the white ones will not. The first time I used the white ties & within 6 months they were breaking off. I redid the pen using the black ties & they have held up for years.

 

[calbirder]

Wow - it's great to get all this input! I went out and took pictures of the run with the mesh and cable ties so I can show it here.

The cable ties I used are heavy duty weather resistant ones from 3M so I think they'll do pretty well in this climate. I do know what you mean about some cable ties degrading outdoors though.

Regarding hog clips and j-clips - I looked into this before deciding on cable ties and didn't want to put a permanent clip onto the Eglu. I did find stainless steel cable ties that I thought I could use to reinforce in strategic places (still to be determined). The stainless ones are ridiculously expensive or I'd have bought all stainless ones! As it is I have 35.

ISSOLA - your cube is part of what inspired me to get one! Great idea about adding mesh across the side and top mesh in reach of the door. If the door is open I wouldn't want a raccoon reaching in to get them. I'll put that on today.

I think that for the first few days after the hens arrive I'll plan to close them into the coop at night and manually let them out in the morning. But if they are really fussy by the time I let them out then at some point I probably will want to let them pop out to the run themselves in the morning. Hmmm - maybe I'll have to look into rigging and automatic door for an Eglu...

Thanks everyone for the advice. Any thoughts on where my "strategic" steel cable ties should go?

 

[halo]

I just checked out the Eglu site, because I just love your little set up there! It is a little pricier than what I can spend; for half that I can get a dog kennel run, but for you in your situation, I can't imagine anything more perfect.

 

[calbirder]

I admit - I was smitten by the Eglu's looks and semi portability. It's easy to pop the wheels down and move it around the yard. If I built one myself, or had it built, it would definitely be a stationary object in the yard. This way it's easier to move if we want to.

Plus it's adorable. Even swathing it in 1/2" mesh didn't harm it's looks, though I wish I had been able to find green vinyl covered mesh instead of the galvanized. Still, I'm looking forward to sitting out there in the afternoon watching the girls in the garden. One week to go!

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Unfortunately, during the terror of a raccoon attack, chickens may not be able to figure this out. What tends to happen, I've read, is that the frightened birds pile up in the corner of the pen (especially in a small pen) where they can be easily grabbed by the predator and pulled through the wire bit by bit...if the spaces in the wire allow for this. Bottom line, if you aren't locking your chickens in the coop at night, you've got to assess the security of your pen against predators.