The open coop like that, with one end open but the roosts in the protected end and out of the wind, works real well for some people in southern climates. It might work better in Corpus Christi than Amarillo, though. Some parts or Texas are a lot different than others.
I agree with Sourland. While the light gauge chicken wire will be a bit of a deterrent, a raccoon, coyote, dog, and many other predators can shred the wire and go right through. Many can climb a fence too, like raccoons and foxes. Some can actually tear the wire, but some untwist it. The joints are not welded but are made by twisting. A strong pull can untwist those joints. Some lady here in Arkansas had some pictures of what dogs did to her chicken wire run. Those photos clearly showed both types of destruction.
This will make it more complicated because you will need a human sized door or gate, but you might consider closing off the open end with a heavier wire to make the coop portion predator proof and make sure you securely lock the chickens in there every night. It is not a perfect solution since many predators are out and about during the day. I saw a coyote just before lunchtime today, hunting in a pasture field across from my front porch. But many of us use the theory of predator deterrence during the day and predator protection at night.
My run is 2x4 welded wire with light gauge chicken wire around the lower 18" to keep the chickens from sticking their heads out where something can take it off. It also keeps baby chicks from going throug the run fencing to where Mama cannot protect them. I laid about 18" of either hardware cloth or the 2x4 welded wire (whatever I had left over) horizontal on the ground outside the run and coop and attached it to the bottom of the fence or coop. The idea is that a predator will go up to the fence and either try to dig under it, hit the wire and not know to back up or sometimes, they will just push their way under the wire if there is even a tiny gap between the wire and the ground.
The 2x4 wire will not stop snakes, rats, or many members of the weasel family, and maybe, just possibly some little bitty baby raccons or possums may get through, but it will stop most other adult predators. I consider it a real good deterrent.
Good luck!
I agree with Sourland. While the light gauge chicken wire will be a bit of a deterrent, a raccoon, coyote, dog, and many other predators can shred the wire and go right through. Many can climb a fence too, like raccoons and foxes. Some can actually tear the wire, but some untwist it. The joints are not welded but are made by twisting. A strong pull can untwist those joints. Some lady here in Arkansas had some pictures of what dogs did to her chicken wire run. Those photos clearly showed both types of destruction.
This will make it more complicated because you will need a human sized door or gate, but you might consider closing off the open end with a heavier wire to make the coop portion predator proof and make sure you securely lock the chickens in there every night. It is not a perfect solution since many predators are out and about during the day. I saw a coyote just before lunchtime today, hunting in a pasture field across from my front porch. But many of us use the theory of predator deterrence during the day and predator protection at night.
My run is 2x4 welded wire with light gauge chicken wire around the lower 18" to keep the chickens from sticking their heads out where something can take it off. It also keeps baby chicks from going throug the run fencing to where Mama cannot protect them. I laid about 18" of either hardware cloth or the 2x4 welded wire (whatever I had left over) horizontal on the ground outside the run and coop and attached it to the bottom of the fence or coop. The idea is that a predator will go up to the fence and either try to dig under it, hit the wire and not know to back up or sometimes, they will just push their way under the wire if there is even a tiny gap between the wire and the ground.
The 2x4 wire will not stop snakes, rats, or many members of the weasel family, and maybe, just possibly some little bitty baby raccons or possums may get through, but it will stop most other adult predators. I consider it a real good deterrent.
Good luck!
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