Look what we caught in our trap....

[RoosterML]

You can put all the chicken wire or hardware cloth you want but..... to me the absolute best thing you can do is add an electric fence!!!
I have one that is about 6”-8” off the ground around the perimeter fence and attribute that to being a big chicken saver. Remember nearly all animals lead with their noses. One wack and they won’t be back! I have smelled skunk a couple times when I have gone out in the morning and I just smile.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Well, if you'd seen my previous post, my run is hardware cloth, my coop closed in. However, the only problems we ever encountered, in the past, was Ringed Tailed Cats, and that was at my Uncle's chicken ranch, long ago. I learned a lil from that. He had over 200 chickens of every variety, including Peacocks and Peahens, ducks... etc..

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You can put all the chicken wire or hardware cloth you want but..... to me the absolute best thing you can do is add an electric fence!!!
I have one that is about 6”-8” off the ground around the perimeter fence and attribute that to being a big chicken saver. Remember nearly all animals lead with their noses. One wack and they won’t be back! I have smelled skunk a couple times when I have gone out in the morning and I just smile.

I also vote for an electric fence. But a mink would be under your fence without touching and they are so fast, even if they were to touch it, they might be through before the charge cycles, which is intermittent pulses in most types of chargers.

 

[SmallFlockOwner]

We bought a trap yesterday at Tractor Supply after the hen coop got wiped out 2 nights ago (12 birds). There is a 2.5" gap over the door where the panel bends. This morning we found this. Looks to be an American mink? I was guessing racoons so boy was I surprised. Hard lesson learned. Every inch of coop needs hardware cloth on it.

View attachment 1965468

It's a type of Weasel like a ferret. And weasels are smarter and much more clever than any Fox or raccoon! Luckily the only critter I have seen on my property near my house is a possum. I saw beautiful Fox that I almost hit on the road about 2 miles from my place. I would worry about it being in my neighborhood but between me and where I saw the fox, there is a hell of a lot of distractions for that Fox!!! And my hens and rooster have never given the warning of a predator being nearby. I have these two little red hens and they are very bossy and behave very aggressive toward my French Bulldog. I could swear they are teasing him!!!! LOL

 

[munchkinlover]

Thank you for your painful reminder to all of us to check everything and make sure we are predator proof. My coop is inside the run and the entire thing is enclosed with hardware cloth. As a first time chicken mom, I have worried about every little place that needs a staple or screw. I've gotten comfortable....now I'm going to inspect it all again. Thank you and yes, am so sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine.

 

[Rshumpal]

I did the same inside the roof. I also used hardware cloth to cover the soffits-- for the same reason - the weasel family.

My husband thinks I’m nuts. But the inside of coop roof is covered with hardwire. I have hardwire to my privacy fence up about 8” and then running under the coop. The Open run has wire across roof to the ground and hardwire 8” into the run.
I hope it is enough.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

My husband thinks I’m nuts. But the inside of coop roof is covered with hardwire. I have hardwire to my privacy fence up about 8” and then running under the coop. The Open run has wire across roof to the ground and hardwire 8” into the run.
I hope it is enough.

You aren't nuts. It is amazing what predators can get into.
The guy up the street from me has a big barn with all sorts of rooms, stalls etc. and some horses and lots of openings of all sizes. He fills it with chickens every year and loses most of his birds within a few months. He asked for some advice. I was shocked to see that there was no barrier on any of the openings. He couldn't understand that a raccoon could get into one of the windows.

Just a bit of information here. The term for the product used to securely cover openings is 'hardware cloth'.
'Hardwire' refers to a mechanically secured permanent electrical connection rather than use of an extension cord.
Two completely different things.

 

[RoosterML]

Just a bit of information here. The term for securely covering openings is 'hardware cloth'.
'Hardwire' refers to a mechanically secured permanent electrical connection rather than use of an extension cord.
Two completely different things.

But wait!!!
What if we were to hardwire some hardware cloth. Now that would be a super shield.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

But wait!!!
What if we were to hardwire some hardware cloth. Now that would be a super shield.

 

[Rshumpal]

You aren't nuts. It is amazing what predators can get into.
The guy up the street from me has a big barn with all sorts of rooms, stalls etc. and some horses and lots of openings of all sizes. He fills it with chickens every year and loses most of his birds within a few months. He asked for some advice. I was shocked to see that there was no barrier on any of the openings. He couldn't understand that a raccoon could get into one of the windows.

Just a bit of information here. The term for the product used to securely cover openings is 'hardware cloth'.
'Hardwire' refers to a mechanically secured permanent electrical connection rather than use of an extension cord.
Two completely different things.

I know that I guess my phone knows better. I will have to do better checking. Thanks