Lost my entire flock last night :(

[PrairieChickens]

My condolences, but I am glad to hear you are not giving up!

Our chicken run is a combination of cattle panels and chicken wire layered over each other and buried into the ground so nothing can dig under. Our neighbor has reported seeing foxes trying to get in by systematically throwing themselves against the fence to see if they can break in, but they can't budge it. Bird netting over the entire run keeps birds of prey and climbing predators out. Our biggest problem is that the chickens are vulnerable when they free-range. Most of our losses have been to dogs, and I'm sorry to say my own dog has been a repeat offender himself. We can't even leave him in the dog run for more than ten or twenty minutes, because chickens have managed to find their way into his run while he was outside and gotten eaten.

It's a real challenge to predator proof your chicken run, and the kind of predators you have to contend with can make a huge difference in how you fortify. (Bears for example, are a very different challenge from weasels.) For -most- chicken keepers, it is sufficient to use a layer of chickenwire over a heavier fencing like hog panels or cattle panels, topped with a roof or netting to prevent entry from above and buried to prevent entry from below.

 

[joelharris]

My condolences, but I am glad to hear you are not giving up!

Our chicken run is a combination of cattle panels and chicken wire layered over each other and buried into the ground so nothing can dig under. Our neighbor has reported seeing foxes trying to get in by systematically throwing themselves against the fence to see if they can break in, but they can't budge it. Bird netting over the entire run keeps birds of prey and climbing predators out. Our biggest problem is that the chickens are vulnerable when they free-range. Most of our losses have been to dogs, and I'm sorry to say my own dog has been a repeat offender himself. We can't even leave him in the dog run for more than ten or twenty minutes, because chickens have managed to find their way into his run while he was outside and gotten eaten.

It's a real challenge to predator proof your chicken run, and the kind of predators you have to contend with can make a huge difference in how you fortify. (Bears for example, are a very different challenge from weasels.) For -most- chicken keepers, it is sufficient to use a layer of chickenwire over a heavier fencing like hog panels or cattle panels, topped with a roof or netting to prevent entry from above and buried to prevent entry from below.

Thanks,
Here in the UK the major threat is foxes and as the only thing separating where the chickens roam from a wood on our farm was a 3 foot fence, there's no telling how many foxes there could be. However at the minute the hens are locked in their shed for the most part of the day but are let out when I'm there to supervise until we get a new fence put up.

 

[rtho88]

Just ordered an electric fence to try.

 

[bobbi-j]

Picking up 8 white rock hens Tuesday or Wednesday. They are around 8 months old and laying.

I plan on putting 2x4's across the bottom of my coop that is fenced in so nothing can fit in and it'll have two layers of chicken wire. I'm going to get some stiff wire grate to burry around it.

I have a PVC hoop style run, do you think if I layer chicken wire over it overlapping in 2-4 layers it'll be strong enough? That's not where the breach happened, he just tore that up getting mad trying to get out.

I would advise you to forget the chicken wire altogether. Chicken wire only keeps chickens in or out of an area. It will not keep out a determined predator. Instead, you might want to use 2x4" welded wire, with 1/2" hardware cloth around the bottom 2' (that would be using both, not just the hardware cloth). If you want to keep smaller critters out, layer all of the welded wire with the hardware cloth. It's more expensive that the chicken wire, but also more effective. The electric fence will be a good reinforcement, too.

 

[1muttsfan]

Sorry to say that chicken wire is inadequate against a big predator like a dog, no matter how many layers you apply.

This type of hoop run is much sturdier than the PVC/chicken wire type

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/386902/we-gave-the-chickens-our-bedroom-pic-heavy

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270088/permanent-hoop-coop-in-progress-update-see-post-34

 

[Ruthster55]

Build a pen for that dog but NOT for FREE, no matter how hard-up Grammaw says she is!! Charge them the full cost of labor and materials, and you oughtta charge for the chickens killed, too.

Back in the old days, do you think chicken owners let stuff like this slide? Nope, not when the flock provided breakfast and Sunday dinners.....

While you are rebuilding-reinforcing your run, might be a great time to approach them and build a pen for their rotty.

 

[bobbi-j]

Build a pen for that dog but NOT for FREE, no matter how hard-up Grammaw says she is!! Charge them the full cost of labor and materials, and you oughtta charge for the chickens killed, too.

Back in the old days, do you think chicken owners let stuff like this slide? Nope, not when the flock provided breakfast and Sunday dinners.....

But I'd guess that "back in the old days" family came before chickens or money....

 

[Coop Deville]

I had a few big attacks before I gave up the chicken wire and netting and went with hardware cloth. It's disappointing that I can't see my chickens as well and the cinder block base I installed reduces some of the run space, but at least I sleep relatively well now.

 

[scooter147]

Chicken wire keeps chickens in and very little out. I would switch to a heavy guage 2 x4 inch welded wire.