need advice to keep predators out of new coop

[coffeychicks]

For 4 years my red neck coop worked great had no losses. Well unusual amount of rain caused flooding and a fox got 18 of my birds so we are constructing a new coop on high ground. Please give me any advice for making my birds safe.

This is in the house part. With pipe feeder nest box and roost. Covered in tin. Sides are completely secured

The open top is 8 foot tall and completely covered in bird netting. For protection from hawks

Sides are fenced with galvanized welded fence
And bird netting to stop snakes

Gravity fed water nipples on 5 gallon bucket

And chain link gate. Any ideas welcomed.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

The welded wire perimeter and chain link gate will not afford your birds protection from predators - almost every common chicken predator can make their way through both those. Those who don't get their entire body through will easily reach a paw through and snatch pieces of your birds that will be pulled through the opening and removed from the bird to be eaten. If you are truly wanting to keep predators out with all but absolute certainty, I would suggest running 1/2 inch hardware cloth to the rail at the mid point of the sides and across the chain link gate. Also, most chain link gates have gaps between the post and gate that are also able to be used by these same predators, so addressing those gaps will be important.
I don't see mention of an anti-dig skirt but, again, if your goal is security, I would highly recommend one extending 18 inches from the base of your enclosure all the way around.
The photos don't show - does the coop portion have the ability to be closed securely or is the open portion shown going to remain open? If it's the latter, that would make the above all the more important because you will not have the added layer of protection afforded by a secured door to protect your birds during the overnight hours while they are at their most vulnerable and predators are at their most active.
I don't see any windows in the coop area - are there going to be and they just are not visible? What is the ventilation plan?

 

[coffeychicks]

The coop part is only 3 sides with hardware cloth about 8 inches down from top. Windows are an easy addition if needed. Skirting is 24 inches out just hard to see I do like your idea of hard ware cloth over lapping. The gate has no openings at the bottom or top. Bottom is secured with 2x6 and top with fencingas for top it has netting should I do more

 

[centrarchid]

Top looks covered by deer netting which will not stop a raccoon.

Perimeter can be reinforced with hardware cloth as mentioned or hotwire can be setup at so at least one strand goes around perimeter about 4" above ground. Your coop is close to size where hotwire becomes more cost effective than hardware cloth. Hotwire would also make to dear netting on top would only need to keep out raptors.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Top looks covered by deer netting which will not stop a raccoon.

Perimeter can be reinforced with hardware cloth as mentioned or hotwire can be setup at so at least one strand goes around perimeter about 4" above ground. Your coop is close to size where hotwire becomes more cost effective than hardware cloth. Hotwire would also make to dear netting on top would only need to keep out raptors.

Great point - totally forgot to suggest hot wire, which is funny since that is what I have used.

 

[coffeychicks]

well as luck would have it i have everything needed to set up a hotwire here just have to sort out the electric as extension cords across the yard is not a great idea. may be an option to put an outlet by coop i already have to run water closer yes i am to lazy to carry a 5 gallon bucket across 3 acres

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Solar chargers are a great option - our horse pasture was already running on one, so i tied into that to run around the chicken run. Our charger has been going strong for over six years now.

 

[coffeychicks]

i will look into how much the start up for solar would be. it is defiantely a great idea.

 

[rancher hicks]

Question: How did the fox get your birds.

Point being. I have friends who had a pred dig under and get it.

I as a rule do not leave the pop hole door open at night. Too being a man, I "mark" my territory. I don't recommend women do this but if there is a male in the house it can't hurt. Truth? I stapled a pair of old jeans to the back side of a tree and mark them often.

Now the electric fence is a good idea of course but I do as much as I can. I hadn't been marking regularly and I did catch a fox trying to get into the run but it was in the morning and the birds were still inside the coop which is completely covered with hardware cloth.

This is the coop. The coop part is the green the plastic is over the run and it put up in the late fall so they can go out during the winter.

 

[coffeychicks]

Because my old coop was ankle deep in water I had to let them range. That is how. When I built the coop we were in a drought now we're not go figure