Predator Proof Coop?

[Brahma Chicken5000]

What would be the spacing recommendation for electric fencing strands? We have the setup and the wires.

I believe it’s 8 inches from the ground and then a strand every 12 inches until the top.

 

[Cyprus]

I believe it’s 8 inches from the ground and then a strand every 12 inches until the top.

And that combined with a HC skirt of 18" should stop ground predators from breaking in, right?

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

And that combined with a HC skirt of 18" should stop ground predators from breaking in, right?

Yes it should. Make sure to dig down a foot and 18” out from there and then put down the hardware clothe.

 

[Cyprus]

Ground is frozen solid, but in the meantime we screwed wood over what was cardboard that blocked off the space above the door.

 

[PirateGirl]

One thing I do is that any thing that can open, gate, pop door, etc. has two different latches, so if one fails or one is forgotten the coop/run remains closed/locked.

It's hard to tell how close that bush is to your run, but I can see critters being able to climb it to access your run, maybe it can be pruned back a bit

 

[Cyprus]

It's hard to tell how close that bush is to your run, but I can see critters being able to climb it to access your run, maybe it can be pruned back a bit

Good point. That is a dead tree that can be cut back when we thaw out.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Good point. That is a dead tree that can be cut back when we thaw out.

And used as a roost in your new run.

 

[IamRainey]

I believe it’s 8 inches from the ground and then a strand every 12 inches until the top.

I don't have an electric fence but it seems to me that rats, weasles and maybe skunks could probably get under an 8" wire.

 

[Cyprus]

I don't have an electric fence but it seems to me that rats, weasles and maybe skunks could probably get under an 8" wire.

And foxes

 

[123RedBeard]

I don't have an electric fence but it seems to me that rats, weasles and maybe skunks could probably get under an 8" wire.

Yes, but if it is mounted to the coop, and is only about 1" away from the coop wall there is not much room to go under, as the wall is blocking, and forcing critter to go vertical ...

However ... once critter leaves the ground, it is no longer "grounded" ... so then the coop needs ground wiring ... could be the hardware cloth is used as a ground, either just extending into the unfrozen ground, or wired to the chargers ground ... with the electric hot wire run outside of it ... but kept tight do it doesn't touch the hardware cloth.

While I like lowest hot wire 6" from the ground ... it requires either no weeds or grass, or constant maintaining ... so fence doesn't short out ... same for snow ... then I like additional wires at 12", 18", 24", 36 ... and then maybe 48" ... depending on if you have big critters like bears or mountain lions ... the idea is that "most" critters will explore with their nose ... so put wires at nose height!

If your target is racoons ... even though they are very smart ... and probably could figure it out by themselves ... and just maybe it is the "get even" within me ... I took a 8"-9" square of aluminum foil ... smeared a little peanut butter on it ... and made a crumpled up ball of it, with a small "tail" sticking out of it ... hook that to you turned OFF fence ... then turn fence on! ... Racoon like "shiney" ... and peanut butter (could use bacon too I was told by fence store clerk) In my case I found a torn from fence ball!