Predator proofing help needed.

[Richard1234]

Never been to Antarctica here but have seen predictors and dogs everywhere I have been in USA.

Always better safe than sorry. And one time putting in apron vs watching and trying to trap all the time can be daunting. Besides traps can harm your own birds or other pets. But like some have said whatever works for yourself is all

The person should definitely install an apron yes. But if you have some predators trying to snatch your chickens at night you don't wanna let the thing walk freely. For rodents if your traps keep on getting full you have to stop cause that means there are too many. And like I said before you should also keep your grass short. But yeah if your having some raccoon trying to raid your coop at night then you should definitely trap it. For rodents it depends, if your traps keep on getting full the stop putting them out. If there is just 3 or 4 then just trap them all. Course there really isn't a way of knowing. But I do agree with the apron.

 

[addctd2plnts]

I agree with you, I don't want mice or snakes in my coop either! Mice carry diseases and the snakes in Missouri WILL eat eggs, chicks, and even try to kill chickens. We have these 6 ft long thin Black Racer Snakes that can get through 1/2 inch hardware cloth, so I use 1/4 inch everywhere. I plan my doors and openings to have a piece of wood that surrounds the door but gives the door a 1/2 inch edge to butt up against, and stops snakes from getting in and gives strength if a predator would push against the door. I try to walk around, both inside and outside the coop and see any tiny detail that might allow a predator to get through. Since Black Racer Snakes are amazing climbers, that means everything has to be perfect. The final layer of safety for our babies is two things. I add electrical wire around the bottom, again about 8 inches up and around the edge of the coop and run. The last item of safety is either camera with microphone or a baby monitor, or some sort of security system, at least till I can train a set of guard dogs to keep predators away LOL