Open pen approach and predator safety

[cmom]

I have had my electric wire up for many years around my coops and pens. Originally because a bobcat killed 14 birds. I have seen places where most likely a coyote or fox has attempted to dig under the fence but when they touch the electric wire they abort the attempt and usually don't try it again. I think they teach their young not to touch the wire. Here the predators mostly roam at night. I do have several game cameras up around the coops. Not much activity in quite awhile. Lately just a fox.

The picture above is an older picture. Since it was taken I have added another coop and pen. I now have welded wire and chicken wire.

 

[cmom]

Hardware cloth is good for keeping weasels out. They can get through some pretty small spaces. Luckily we don't have them here.

 

[Alaskan]

I have a bunch of predators, no coons, but bears, dogs, all raptors, weasels.

I have made secure runs attached to my coops, and leave the pop doors open 24/7.

As long as the run and coop are secure, it doesn't matter.

My baby sister in Texas has coops attached to tiny runs, all secure, then let's them free range during the day.

Her coops are solid only on the bottom part (about 2 or 3 feet) then wire the rest of the way to the roof. They are located under some old oak trees, and have very deep roof overhangs, but there is no way for her to close those wire sides.

She does, rarely, get snow, and a little less rarely rain close enough to horizontal that the chickens get wet, but none have ever died from the weather. Where she is snow and horizontal rain can happen, but it is the heat that is more likely to kill. Her perches are at the level of the wire... so wind blows at them... but where she lives...that is a good thing.