Predator Proofing! Called in sick today to prepare for my first chicks ever!

[Living_Legend]

The coop / run is 7 ft by 12 ft I added a two and a half foot skirt of hardware cloth around the coop and run I am also going to have the chickens quote unquote free range in a 36 foot by 16 foot area. I still plan to put bird netting over that area and a mobile fencing to get them from the door to the quote unquote free range area. I also added motion-detecting lights and predator blinking red solar lights to look like eyes of animals. Holla.

 

[Living_Legend]

 

[rosemarythyme]

Nice looking setup, great job!

 

[Folly's place]

Nice coop!
Add wood strips screwed into the framing, over the hardware cloth, at least. We also have 2"x4" woven wire over the hardware cloth, under the screwed in wood strips. I'm paranoid!
Also, child-proof (raccoon proof) latches on every door and the nest box opening.
You do have hardware cloth over the windows, right?
It's very handsome!
Mary

 

[RESQME49]

Is that a carolina coop? Looks great! How many birds?

 

[blackdog043]

Looks good!

Add wood strips screwed into the framing, over the hardware cloth, at least.

Or use screws with washers to fasten the hardware cloth, those staples don't look like they will hold the HWC on very well, against predators.

 

[Living_Legend]

those staples are hammered in about a inch and a half deep. I couldnt pull those staples out if i wanted to.

They are Hillman 1-3/4 in. Galvanized Fence Staple

 

[Living_Legend]

Nice coop!
Add wood strips screwed into the framing, over the hardware cloth, at least. We also have 2"x4" woven wire over the hardware cloth, under the screwed in wood strips. I'm paranoid!
Also, child-proof (raccoon proof) latches on every door and the nest box opening.
You do have hardware cloth over the windows, right?
It's very handsome!
Mary

I have heavy duty latches over nest box, locks on doors. no harware cloth over windows. if i decide to ever open them i will put it over them then.

inside the coop there is another 8 inches of 4x4 wood that blocks the ground so a preditor would have to dig past 3 feet to get in.

 

[Living_Legend]

Is that a carolina coop? Looks great! How many birds?

no it is amish built though. 7ft x 5ft. i ordered 9 chicks.

 

[jthornton]

Looks real nice.

Is there any ventilation we can't see? Coops need a lot of draft free vents to allow the moisture from breathing and pooping to escape.

JT