Lock your coop and run up

[Imachickenmama]

At night? I think we have done a good job predator proofing, but I am so freaked about something getting in at night and killing off my babies.
So do you lock your coop and the run at night? I like them being able to come out in the morning when they're ready.
Here is our coop and run.

I think our biggest predators would be raccoons and maybe cats? We live in the city.
Any advice on further predator proofing would be fantastic!

 

[yyz0yyz0]

Can't really tell what you've done to prevent diggers from getting under the fencing?

You would be surprised at what other predators will come calling once you have free food available, don't count on it only being cats and coons.

 

[cosbackyard]

Good idea to use the heavier wire behind the chicken wire.
For the time being I'd lock your chickens up in the coop at night. As previously mentioned - predators can and will dig under the edges to get inside. You can bury some wire underground, either straight down or skirted out. Probably other good options, too.

 

[HomesteadDebi]

I agree with locking them up at night. I see rocks around the front of the run. Are you putting those around the bottom of the fence?

 

[Imachickenmama]

I think I would sleep better locking them up at night. I am up all night thinking about them. Will get a door for the coop today. We will eventually dig around the perimeter and bury some chicken wire down.
The run is on a slope, so the rocks are part of that. The coop has the heavy duty wire fencing, then chicken wire around it.
We will be putting up a new wooden fence around our house soon and I will be making sure to have the fence to the ground and will be digging under and putting wire so random dogs can't get in. My chickens only free range while I'm out there.
Thanks for the advice so far. Any more is appreciated also

 

[sphillips]

I shut the coop door and lock up my chickens for the night. I feel much better knowing they are safe and sound. I usually go out early on nice days and open the door so they can go out into their run. My chickens are still young, but at 7:00 pm, I go out to shut them in, and they are already on their perch ready for bed, so I think they feel safer too.

 

[Imachickenmama]

I started locking them up after posting. Last night we came home at 9:30 pm, so we hadn't locked them up for the night and there was a raccoon out there. We made it home just in time. Looked like it had just discovered it. I am on watch tonight.

 

[liamthechicken]

I lock mine up as they've started to roost, which can be anywhere between 5-8 pm. We had a massacre about two years ago, because the chickens had made their dust baths to near to the fence. The fox dug up the boundary and scratched through the thin door and killed them all but only ate one.

We now have an old toilet port-a-cabin type thing, with a proper door. At first we would tie some thick wire around the handle, thinking that Mr. Ever Hungry Fox would be able to get back in' he didn't. Some nights he is seen scurrying across the farmyard, ready for dinner.

Somehow, Lottie, our little BO is escaping!

I open them up at 9 am, only to come back out at 11 for their treats, that Lottie is roaming the farm while Candy, Jack, Daphne, Tilly and Wilma are inside like good girls (and boys!). I'll have to look into this.


Could I have some sympathy? My poor darling Polly died earlier. I noticed she was staying away from the others, she wasn't eating and she had green faeces. She was also very meek. When I cuddled her yesterday, she jumped down off my lap and fell on the floor. Then she flapped her wings and got back up before toddling off again. She's buried now.

RIP Polly 24/4/08 -- 15/04/13. You'll never be forgotten.

 

[appps]

We lock ours up at night. I have an alarm on my phone to remind me as I forgot once years ago and lost them all.

I open it up again about 7am after I wake the kids for school. It's no effort and I sleep better knowing they are safer.

 

[gg706]

Liamthechicken I am sorry you lost your Polly!
I lock up my chickens at night. I let them out first thing in the morning, they go to the roost on their own everyday and I go out and shut the door. It doesn't take much time and I know my chickens are safe for the night.