need help constructing predator protection

[OldGuy43]

i am also thinking of putting it close to the house and i am only getting 3 chickens. how bad is the smell? i intend to keep up on the cleaning.

We currently have 12 hens and one duck and the run is right next to the house. Smell hasn't been a problem for us and we do not air condition. The windows are open, weather permitting.

I have electric fence around one of my coops & its good but I worry about fires & power outages. Hardware cloth is the way to go but is very expensive . Chicken wire is not predator proof a coon can rip it open no problem. Another problem you will be faced with when using hot wire is making sure nothing comes in contact with the wire anything touching the wire will ground it out.

If you use a pulsed charger and keep the weeds trimmed, fire is not a problem. If power outages are a serious problem for you, get a battery or solar powered charger. Do keep in mind that predators don't sit out there watching and say, "Oh look, the power's out. Now's our chance."

 

[7L Farm]

We currently have 12 hens and one duck and the run is right next to the house. Smell hasn't been a problem for us and we do not air condition. The windows are open, weather permitting.





If you use a pulsed charger and keep the weeds trimmed, fire is not a problem. If power outages are a serious problem for you, get a battery or solar powered charger. Do keep in mind that predators don't sit out there watching and say, "Oh look, the power's out. Now's our chance."

Why even do that just use half inch 19 guage hardware cloth problem solved. Someone stated a predator will chew through the cloth just takes longer. I seriously doubt it for one the predatror can't get his mouth around it. Hey, its your birds I like the cloth better than hot wire. Its your call. I have a coop with hot wire your constantly wondering did I hook it up, did I clear the grass around it, hope nothing falls on it & it burns my coop up. Not me I'm a half inch hardware cloth coop builder from now on.

 

[OldGuy43]

Quote:Hey, its your birds I like the cloth better than hot wire. Its your call. I have a coop with hot wire your constantly wondering did I hook it up, did I clear the grass around it, hope nothing falls on it & it burns my coop up. Not me I'm a half inch hardware cloth coop builder from now on.

Your right about one thing; Advice is like wine. It effects one only if taken. A properly thought out and installed electric fence will keep a predator from digging under that 1/2" hardware cloth fence too.

 

[centrarchid]

Below would be my dream setup for holding laying hens. Dog(s) on outside would deny predators opportunity to test materials or workmanship.

It's always better to be safe than sorry. I only use half inch hardware cloth on all my coops & an apron on the bottom to keep predators from digging in. Coons can rip thru the chicken wire. Here's my set up might help you see how I installed my apron.

 

[7L Farm]

One more reason to use the cloth this cage is built with 100 % half inch 19 guage hardware cloth & two foot apron around the entire structurre. I don't think a lizard can get in it. So no worry about mice, rats Or snakes. No electricity needed. I personally don't like using electricty to keep my birds safe if I can get around it.

 

[Chris09]

Why even do that just use half inch 19 guage hardware cloth problem solved. Someone stated a predator will chew through the cloth just takes longer. I seriously doubt it for one the predatror can't get his mouth around it. Hey, its your birds I like the cloth better than hot wire. Its your call. I have a coop with hot wire your constantly wondering did I hook it up, did I clear the grass around it, hope nothing falls on it & it burns my coop up. Not me I'm a half inch hardware cloth coop builder from now on.

Rat like most rodents will chew right threw most of that Hardware Cloth. (I have seen it done)
Most predators will rip right threw most of the Hardware Cloth, IF that hardware cloth was so good don't you think companies would make live traps/ have a heart traps out of it? There is a very good reason they don't.

1 x 1/2 - 16 ga. or 1 x 2 - 14 ga. makes that Hardware Cloth look like window screen.


Chris

 

[7L Farm]

Rat like most rodents will chew right threw most of that Hardware Cloth. (I have seen it done)
Most predators will rip right threw most of the Hardware Cloth, IF that hardware cloth was so good don't you think companies would make live traps/ have a heart traps out of it? There is a very good reason they don't.

1 x 1/2 - 16 ga. or 1 x 2 - 14 ga. makes that Hardware Cloth look like window screen.


Chris

Don't want to start anything & don't know where you live but here where I'm at I have no fear of anything getting in my coops.There's no way a rat could chew thru the wire his teeth would fall out of his head or grind down way before he would get in. Yall must have rats on steroids & coons with metal teeth. Shoot they could get thru the wood alot easier than the wire.

 

[centrarchid]

I have had critters chew or tear through various types of fencing / caging materials but such events are relatively rare. If a dog is even tied nearby, the typical predator will not invest time in getting through material.

 

[Chris09]

Don't want to start anything & don't know where you live but here where I'm at I have no fear of anything getting in my coops.There's no way a rat could chew thru the wire his teeth would fall out of his head or grind down way before he would get in. Yall must have rats on steroids & coons with metal teeth. Shoot they could get thru the wood alot easier than the wire.

Quote: It's right under my name on the left hand side, Ohio.



Quote: That a lot of wishful thinking. You would be surprised what a rat (any rat) and chew threw. I would advise taking some time and reading about the predators you are trying to keep out. For the record Rats have been know to chew through concrete blocks.

Quote: Same rat yall have in Texas. Norway "Brown" Rat.

Like I said in my lat post,"IF that hardware cloth was so good don't you think companies would make live traps/ have a heart traps out of it?''


Chris

 

[Shayna]

You will be much happier if you put in the extra expense starting out. I agree that hardware cloth is the best thing to use and that chicken wire is useless. I used 1/4" hardware cloth, and I also ran 2' high boards around the base of my run and coop to prevent anything from pulling at the hardware cloth at the base. I also put 1/2" hardware cloth on the ground around the run to prevent digging in. The base boards around the run hold that in place too. No issues yet, and I hope I never have any problems with anything breaking in!