Predator Proof Coop?

[Cyprus]

If you're having predators dig in, you need an apron along the front side of your coop, inside the barn. Then I would put another apron along the outside of the barn in the area where you coop is located. You may still have a predator dig into your barn, but if you have an apron along the front of your coop, it will help keep them from digging into the coop.

You need a sturdier fence for your run. The way it is now, it would be very easy for a fox/dog/coyote/coon to push under the wire. The t posts do not hold the wire down on the ground very well. You need to be able to screw your wire into wood to keep animals from lifting it up. Then I would add another apron, either buried or on top of the ground & anchored around your run.

What kind of wire are you using for your run? It looks like 2x4 wire. Weasels, rats, mice snakes & raccoon hands can easily get into your run. You need to put 1/2" hardware cloth at least around the lower half of your run. It still won't stop mice & snakes, but it will help with the others. You might even want to consider replacing the welded wire on your coop with 1/2" hardware cloth.

Do you have a way to close your chicken door? I don't see one in the pics. You need to close it at night in case something does get into your run.

There's a lot of these I can't physically do. The ground inside my barn is cement. They aren't digging under the door inside the barn.
The coop you see outside with the run is not the coop I've had the issues with the most forced entry in. The coop that fits that criteria is my fully indoor coop, with a wood floor. They get under the door which has a gap and through the flimsy wire my dad insisted we use. That coop is no longer in use.

The run door is covered at night. Yes, the run needs improvement. I already know that.

Did you read the whole post? This thread isn't to critique me, it's to provide insight for others on how to make a secure coop.

 

[henless]

After suffering several predator attacks lately, I've been revisiting the design of my coop and trying to troubleshoot what I did wrong.

This indicated to me that you were asking for help to see what needs to be changed to prevent attacks.

What features and materials would go into making a predator proof coop and run? What kind of predators should the average chicken keeper be worried about deterring?

Here in my area I've encounted almost everything from dogs to bobcats, foxes to skunks. I've made lots of repairs and improvements to my coops to try and stop predators but they aren't working.
The only thing that I've found to hold up for all 6 Years is the 19gage welded wire.

I assumed that you had already made improvements to your coop/run. When looking at the link to the coop that you posted, I assumed this is the improved coop/run that you were asking about. I saw only 1 run, and 2 side by side coops in the barn.

I want your input on what you think should be a part of a secure coop and run.

Since you used your coop for reference, I also used your coop to say what I think might help to prevent predator attacks.

Thanks in advance,
Cyprus

From outside through the run or from in the barn by tunnelling through the dirt floor.

I assumed from this post that the inside of the barn was dirt. The pic you posted looks like dirt.

There's a lot of these I can't physically do. The ground inside my barn is cement. They aren't digging under the door inside the barn.

The pic of the inside of your barn looks like packed dirt to me. I had no way of knowing it was cement.

The coop you see outside with the run is not the coop I've had the issues with the most forced entry in. The coop that fits that criteria is my fully indoor coop, with a wood floor. They get under the door which has a gap and through the flimsy wire my dad insisted we use. That coop is no longer in use.

The run door is covered at night. Yes, the run needs improvement. I already know that.

Did you read the whole post? This thread isn't to critique me, it's to provide insight for others on how to make a secure coop.

Yes, I read this whole post plus the whole post that you had the pics in. In fact, I went back and read them both again. To me, you are still asking for suggestions to improve your chicken area. It seemed you had made improvements that weren't working and needing help to figure out what else you could do. But since you say you aren't, I apologize if I offended you buy giving you suggestions to help improve your coops & run. I guess the rest of the posts here giving you suggestions to help improve your set up must have missed your intentions also.

 

[Cyprus]

I assumed from this post that the inside of the barn was dirt. The pic you posted looks like dirt.



Yes, I read this whole post plus the whole post that you had the pics in. In fact, I went back and read them both again. To me, you are still asking for suggestions to improve your chicken area. It seemed you had made improvements that weren't working and needing help to figure out what else you could do. But since you say you aren't, I apologize if I offended you buy giving you suggestions to help improve your coops & run. I guess the rest of the posts here giving you suggestions to help improve your set up must have missed your intentions also.

I'd prefer that you either remove this post from my thread or heavily edit it to make it a little less hostile. And please remove the bold outside of the quotes.

 

[aart]

Deep Breaths.