New coop from Austin TX

[DobieLover]

Hello Dex, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.

So sorry about the losses to hawks. I've lost 2 that way and it's quite upsetting.

 

[N F C]

Hi Dex, sorry to read of your losses...hope things will go better from here on out.

 

[007Sean]

Howdy, and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[farmerho]

Thanks for all the greetings and well wishes. In case it helps anyone else to learn from my mistakes:

* opossum was able to rip the lid off the plastic tub I had my chicks in. Completely shocked that was possible. Added zip ties all around the lid to fix this one.

* hawk landed next to my Omlet coop and swiped 2 chicks through the mesh siding! I've since reinforced all walls of the Omlete coop with hardware mesh

I guess you don't realize what nature can do until you try to keep them alive in your backyard

 

[fldiver97]

Thanks for all the greetings and well wishes. In case it helps anyone else to learn from my mistakes:

* opossum was able to rip the lid off the plastic tub I had my chicks in. Completely shocked that was possible. Added zip ties all around the lid to fix this one.

* hawk landed next to my Omlet coop and swiped 2 chicks through the mesh siding! I've since reinforced all walls of the Omlete coop with hardware mesh

I guess you don't realize what nature can do until you try to keep them alive in your backyard

So sorry!!!
Yes, raccoons are very smart and can break into a lot of things…. They can open simple hatches and locks. Chicken wire is only good to keep chickens in, can’t keep predators out. You did the right thing switching to hardware cloth.
Maybe keep the brooder box inside a secure coop or run or the garage?