lock on outside of nest box???

[BawkinOnTheBench]

I put luggage locks (the sturdy kind) on mine, and hang the key from the handle. I figure if Snarler (the raccoon) is smart enough to use the key, he deserves a chicken dinner.

 

[sandymart]

I'm considering the same thing. We are nailing part of our coop shut after losing one hen each of the last two nights. Our neighbors feed the raccoons and now I'm afraid we are doing the same.

 

[ORChick]

I use a carabiener (sp?) hook - I may be wrong, but I don't fancy that a raccoon could open it.

 

[blueheaven]

Quote:
feed raccoons...what on earth for?

 

[Chicken03]

Racoons would easily open the door. You have nothing to lose by putting a lock on it or at least some type of latch.

 

[JennsPeeps]

I, too, use carabiners. I always latch it, then turn it through the hasp to make it as challenging as possible for a raccoon to manage.

Anything a 2-3 year old can open, a raccoon can open. They have that level of manual dexterity and intellect.

I've got caribiners on the pop door and access door of the coop. The nesting boxes are latched at tope & bottom but not locked. The raccoon would have to open the top latch, which is over 5' up off the ground, to get into the coop via the nesting boxes.