bethnlee
Songster
Hello. There is so much helpful info here! I'm a new chicken mom wantabe 
I bought a kennel from Tractor Supply and am building my coop in it. I am putting hardware cloth on the bottom section and burying it 6-8” down and 12” out. The kennel is 2x4” wire...can I just wrap the rest of the kennel in chicken wire to keep squirrels out or do I need something more substantial? I have the hard roof for the kennel and will put hardware cloth on the open ends of that. My coop will also have a roof. I live in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains in Ca and we have coyotes, bob cats, skunks, raccoons and who knows what all. No bears, usually at this elevation. Thanks so much!
I bought a kennel from Tractor Supply and am building my coop in it. I am putting hardware cloth on the bottom section and burying it 6-8” down and 12” out. The kennel is 2x4” wire...can I just wrap the rest of the kennel in chicken wire to keep squirrels out or do I need something more substantial? I have the hard roof for the kennel and will put hardware cloth on the open ends of that. My coop will also have a roof. I live in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains in Ca and we have coyotes, bob cats, skunks, raccoons and who knows what all. No bears, usually at this elevation. Thanks so much!
I used welded wire with chicken wire and have had no issues. Some people will insist you will need hardware cloth. I also have several cameras around the coops and have seen plenty of predators on the cameras but I also have electric wires around my coops and pens and nothing has penetrated so far and it's been up for many years. I think the adult predators teach their young that a bird isn't worth getting zapped for. I have a nice strong fence charger because I want anything that touches the wires to know it. Good luck and have fun...
