Predator proof cage

[Jeskka1819]

So I just built a 6 by 8 ft run and house on the top for my bantam chickens and I think I predator proof the cage so I think. I have never use this chicken wire before ( picture below) only the heavy duty chicken wire with the small squares for my large run with is completely predator proof. I’m really nervous to leave them in since we have a bad raccoon problem. They had a feast a couple nights ago on my chickens.. ate all 14 and 2 ducks. Which was my fault for not securing the cage and latching it. So whatever Is not nailed down and shut away gets eaten as soon as it gets dark. Any suggestions on the cage to make sure no coons are able to bust in? I have chicken wire towards the bottom and I doubled and have it coming out with large stones on it. Everything is stapled down and wood running along the edges to secure it. There are no small cracks but still I’m panicking since these are my daughters seramas and she holds them daily. Leave some experiences and suggestions below please.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Not sure, we use hardware cloth up 2 feet, so things can't reach in. I love that design though

 

[rosemarythyme]

Chicken wire is NOT raccoon proof at all - because of the way it's twisted together, coons put their fingers in the hole, pull, and can tear the wire or make a hole big enough for them to get into (or pull chickens out of). At the very least you need hardware cloth or welded wire (or better option would be both, layered on top of each other, for strength and to keep coons from reaching in).

 

[Jeskka1819]

Not sure, we use hardware cloth up 2 feet, so things can't reach in. I love that design though

I put another layer of wire probably 2 feet up so nothing would be able to reach through but still not sure about the sturdiness of the wire itself it’s kinda flimsy to me

 

[TheOddOneOut]

So I just built a 6 by 8 ft run and house on the top for my bantam chickens and I think I predator proof the cage so I think. I have never use this chicken wire before ( picture below) only the heavy duty chicken wire with the small squares for my large run with is completely predator proof. I’m really nervous to leave them in since we have a bad raccoon problem. They had a feast a couple nights ago on my chickens.. ate all 14 and 2 ducks. Which was my fault for not securing the cage and latching it. So whatever Is not nailed down and shut away gets eaten as soon as it gets dark. Any suggestions on the cage to make sure no coons are able to bust in? I have chicken wire towards the bottom and I doubled and have it coming out with large stones on it. Everything is stapled down and wood running along the edges to secure it. There are no small cracks but still I’m panicking since these are my daughters seramas and she holds them daily. Leave some experiences and suggestions below please.

That doesn't look very predator proof to me. Nothing preventing digging (rocks aren't effective), and chicken wire does NOT work.
Predators can definitely get in.

 

[Jeskka1819]

Chicken wire is NOT raccoon proof at all - because of the way it's twisted together, coons put their fingers in the hole, pull, and can tear the wire or make a hole big enough for them to get into (or pull chickens out of). At the very least you need hardware cloth or welded wire (or better option would be both, layered on top of each other, for strength and to keep coons from reaching in).

Thanks you! I did layer it on the bottom With more wire I might use hardware cloth though that’s a good idea

 

[Jeskka1819]

That doesn't look very predator proof to me. Nothing preventing digging (rocks aren't effective), and chicken wire does NOT work.

Well thanks for your honesty.. should I bury the wire underneath then add stones?

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Well thanks for your honesty.. should I bury the wire underneath then add stones?

That would be more effective. You can go down, then out too.
It looks like a good setup, and like you have happy birds, but it's only as good as it is able to keep predators out. Make a few changes, and it's great!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Well thanks for your honesty.. should I bury the wire underneath then add stones?

For the apron (don't know how far out you've run the wire) I would also use hardware cloth or welded wire, out at least 2' (if flat on surface), then pinned down with landscape staples. No rocks around the border... what that does is push the edge the predator would dig at further out, so if the rocks were 6" wide, instead of 24" of coverage, now it's 18" of coverage because the rocks take up 6".

 

[Jeskka1819]

That would be more effective. You can go down, then out too.
It looks like a good setup, and like you have happy birds, but it's only as good as it is able to keep predators out. Make a few changes, and it's great!

Thank you. I am going to put some smelly bait in there to see if anyone brakes through the next couple days and bury the wire tomorrow. Maybe add some mesh cloth as well. Wish me luck