Predator Proof Coop, Resistant Run +Chicken Wire? Yea? Nay?

[GlenwoodFarm]

Hey All! We just got 7 chicks a week ago, and have almost finished our coop, however we have hit a bump in what to cover the run with. We live in the suburbs, and have a nice big fenced in yard in which we plan to let them have a free run of. When they are in the run obviously it will only be during the day. The coop is impenetrable, I mean we have been all-out picky about every single detail with the coop's security. We would like to use regular 1" chicken wire to cover the run as it is so much more easy to see through, and we like the "classic" look of it

. Hawks, dogs, cats etc. are no problem where we are, but Raccoons are very abundant. So here is the question, will coons try and get into the run if nothing is in there? I'm not worried about them being inside the run as the coop is very secure, but am I going to have to patch up holes in the chicken wire constantly? If so I would rather get the stronger netting. Thanks Everyone!

 

[rooster-red]

Chicken wire is good for keeping chickens in, however it won't keep anything else out.

 

[ranchhand]

I have 4 pens/runs/coops, and I always thought they were very secure. But in the last week I have lost 13 chickens to what is probably a raccoon. I am going with an electric fence asap. And even more hardware cloth everywhere. Multiple layers of everything.

This is a very strong and tenacious critter, and has killed all my layers and 2 roos just because it could.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Use hardware cloth an paint it black so you can see threw it.

 

[patandchickens]

If there is no food left outside (neither a feeder nor any scraps you've tossed to the chickens) then you are relatively unlikely to have things breaking into the run at night when it's vacant.

HOWEVER, I would still not use chickenwire if it were me. It is easy to say 'no dog will ever get into our fenced yard' but all it takes is for someone to leave the gate open *once*; also, raccoons DO hunt during daytime sometimes, particularly in early summer when they have kids to feed.

The price difference between 1" welded wire, versus chickenwire and then potentially having to *also* buy welded wire *and* replace your flock, does not really give you much savings.

And 1" welded wire or 1/2" hardware cloth are not that difficult to see through, especially if you spring for the black or green vinyl covered stuff or just buy the plain galvanized mesh and whizz a black paint roller over it once a year.

So, JMHO, but I would go for security (and you can still have it look just about as see-through) because daytime predators ARE a real threat.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[sotelomary]

Go with the 1" hardware cloth. The extra expense is well worth your peace of mind and safety for your chickens.

 

[bethgranberg]

Hello-We have a huge raccoon problem here, I have my run wrapped double chicken wire all 3 sides, 4th side against coop -top and under ground double wrapped as well. During the day my girls are in dog run with no top, so I only let them in the dog run during the day when I am home. If I am going somewhere I put them in wrapped run or coop, I never let my guard down, too much time and energy put into and they are so close to laying. Also I always always lock them in the coop in evening hours with latches on all doors at all times. I figure from reading others posts and loosing all my Turkeys to what I believe to be coons last year, you give them any weak spots and they will find them..

 

[chookchick]

I used 2 by 4 welded wire for the same reason--wanted to "see" the chickens, and not have them quite so "cooped up" looking. The bottom 2' is also layered with 1" chicken wire so nothing can reach in and grab them. The top is also covered with welded wire. It is nice to have a secure run on those nights when you do not get back as early as you would like, to shut them in. We have tons of coons around here (saw a nursing mother in the daytime recently), also loose neighborhood dogs, and I have not had any problems.

 

[gottalovemychickens]

to be honest , right now i have a car battery hooked up to metal fencing around the coop at night and ive heard 2 racoons and 1 coyote get hurt already trying to cross the line

 

[thgail]

I have a run about 7' high made with regular chicken wire but added 2' corrugated tin around the bottom buried a few inches. Over the top I have bird netting and tin roofing. The entire chicken house and run are inside my back yard that has a 5' chain link fence around it. To deter anything (including my dogs) from digging under the run I put a hot wire around the bottom about 2" off the ground. It sure works. One night the dogs came unwound about 2am. I let them out the back door and realized that a skunk was out back. They chased him out of the yard. I went to check on the chickens and discovered a yellow spot about 12" round on the bottom of the run door. Apparently the skunk tried to dig under the door and got a shock. It sprayed the door big time. Took forever for the smell to go away. The chickens were never in any danger because I have their house built on a concrete slab and nothing can dig under it. The dogs keep most things away that can get inside the chain link fence during the day.