Predator proofing help needed.

[SophIeR]

New chicken mama here and I need advice please. I am curious about the need (and how) one predator proofs door openings. I see videos of people opening the lid of the nesting boxes to collect eggs, or opening a door to walk into the run and I see no special proofing. Is it not a worry that a snake or mouse may slip through?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I don't put snakes and mice in the category of predators. More of a nuisance if anything.
Mice are after chicken feed and grain. Snakes are after the mice though given the opportunity will eat eggs or small chicks.
When I think of predators, I think of those things that kill and eat chickens. That would be raccoons, dogs, foxes, coyotes, bears, mountain lions down to weasels and mink.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Snakes don't bother me but I wouldn't want rodents slipping in. My run isn't rodent proof but I have enough gaps sealed up around the bottom few feet (hardware cloth apron and up a few feet on the fence, including around the gates) to keep rodents from simply strolling in, and I put away all feeders at night, so really no reason for rodents to want to go in.

 

[3KillerBs]

If there is no gap larger than 1/2" when the doors are closed then nothing will get in while they're closed. I don't leave doors open unless I'm actively working in the coop and I don't expect anything to come in while I'm actively working in there.

I wouldn't give a mouse much of a life expectancy around my flock unless it came at night. I have mole tunnels everywhere in my yard EXCEPT inside the chicken run. A large snake might give them pause, but a small one would also have a short life expectancy.

 

[Richard1234]

We had a problem with rodents digging under the coop a month ago. We don't have a predator apron instead we just put fencing underneath the coop. Soon enough we saw holes being dug up from under the coop. I thought it was a skunk or a opossum but later I found out that the thing that was digging under the coop was small enough to fit through the fencing. Soon we put out rat traps and the next morning we caught two huge rats. Since you seem mostly worried of rodents and snakes getting in I would just put rat/mouse traps by there coop. This way you 1. Don't have to predator proof the door and 2. You don't have too worry about snakes with this method too. The only thing that I can think of that would attract snakes to the coop would be rodents and putting out the traps should get rid of the rodents. If you ever have rodents digging under the coop sent the traps out immediately, our sliding door that secures the chickens in there second story in there coop was almost chewed through. And we lost the left over food the chickens left. One last thing do not put the traps out at day. You could catch or kill a bird. I learned that the hard way.

 

[3KillerBs]

We had a problem with rodents digging under the coop a month ago. We don't have a predator apron instead we just put fencing underneath the coop. Soon enough we saw holes being dug up from under the coop. I thought it was a skunk or a opossum but later I found out that the thing that was digging under the coop was small enough to fit through the fencing. Soon we put out rat traps and the next morning we caught two huge rats. Since you seem mostly worried of rodents and snakes getting in I would just put rat/mouse traps by there coop. This way you 1. Don't have to predator proof the door and 2. You don't have too worry about snakes with this method too. The only thing that I can think of that would attract snakes to the coop would be rodents and putting out the traps should get rid of the rodents. If you ever have rodents digging under the coop sent the traps out immediately, our sliding door that secures the chickens in there second story in there coop was almost chewed through. And we lost the left over food the chickens left. One last thing do not put the traps out at day. You could catch or kill a bird. I learned that the hard way.

An anti-dig apron of 1/2" hardware cloth should keep rodents out.

 

[Richard1234]

An anti-dig apron of 1/2" hardware cloth should keep rodents out.

For us the rodent traps worked great, we have had no rodents digging under the coop and we have had no rodents in our backyard at all. A great way of getting rid of both rodent and rat is to keep the grass cut short. I would suggest putting rodent traps out and keeping the grass short instead of installing something. There is another way too. If you were to get a roo that would most likely help defend the hens against snakes and rats too. They could also give you a lot more benefits such as alerting the flock when danger is near and defending the hens with there life, they can also give you the fertile eggs but if you don't want fertile eggs you would just put them in the fridge for a day or so to stop the progression and so you can eat them. Now if you live in a area where you can't have roosters you can 1. Get a rooster collar: people do not like the collar because it supposedly is abuse to the animal, but it is not. If you apply it right then it will make the rooster quiet and make it so you can keep it. But you cannot tighten it too much, you should be able to get a pinky through the collar. There is no evidence that the collar is animal abuse, the roosters get use too it and end up living a happy life. 2. You can blackout the coop which quites the crow in the morning. Now that Is all if you want a rooster, you might already have one. So 1. Set up rodent traps 2. Cut the grass short, don't let it get tall 3. Get a rooster (optional). Note: (If you decide to get a rooster you should still do 1 and 2, but like i said before the rooster gives you extra benefits and extra protection.)

 

[3KillerBs]

For us the rodent traps worked great, we have had no rodents digging under the coop and we have had no rodents in our backyard at all. A great way of getting rid of both rodent and rat is to keep the grass cut short. I would suggest putting rodent traps out and keeping the grass short instead of installing something. There is another way too. If you were to get a roo that would most likely help defend the hens against snakes and rats too. They could also give you a lot more benefits such as alerting the flock when danger is near and defending the hens with there life, they can also give you the fertile eggs but if you don't want fertile eggs you would just put them in the fridge for a day or so to stop the progression and so you can eat them. Now if you live in a area where you can't have roosters you can 1. Get a rooster collar: people do not like the collar because it supposedly is abuse to the animal, but it is not. If you apply it right then it will make the rooster quiet and make it so you can keep it. But you cannot tighten it too much, you should be able to get a pinky through the collar. There is no evidence that the collar is animal abuse, the roosters get use too it and end up living a happy life. 2. You can blackout the coop which quites the crow in the morning. Now that Is all if you want a rooster, you might already have one. So 1. Set up rodent traps 2. Cut the grass short, don't let it get tall 3. Get a rooster (optional). Note: (If you decide to get a rooster you should still do 1 and 2, but like i said before the rooster gives you extra benefits and extra protection.)

The anti-dig apron is already necessary to keep out raccoons, dogs, and coyotes.. Might as well use 1/2" hardware cloth instead of 2x4 wire and keep out rodents, snakes, and weasels.

It's easier than setting and maintaining traps.

 

[SophIeR]

ARgh. I apologize. I guess I used the incorrect words. I am only wondering about the hatch where I open to collect eggs and the door into coop. I have an apron, etc. etc. I am in a city and not allowed to have a rooster. As per my first question, I just see everyone close the lids. But so many are not sealed super tight. I'm just curious about things slipping through. Thank you everyone for your responses. I LOVE having chickens - just have lots to learn.

 

[Richard1234]

The anti-dig apron is already necessary to keep out raccoons, dogs, and coyotes.. Might as well use 1/2" hardware cloth instead of 2x4 wire and keep out rodents, snakes, and weasels.

It's easier than setting and maintaining traps.

Maintaining traps aren't hard. I do agree with setting up a apron or fencing under the coop. But rodents aren't exactly something you'd want to keep around your yard. You should still set up traps if you see digging under your coop and you should keep your grass short also. Also the person who made the post just said there in the city. You wouldn't have coyotes running around. I live in the city too but predators such as racoons and coyotes are something you don't see unless your in the woods. The person is just trying to get rid of the rodents and snakes and keep them from bothering the chickens. It is unnecessary. There is only one reason the person should set up an apron or fencing underneath and that is if they live by the woods in the city (my grandparents house is in the city but they have a woods in back so if the person has something like that then yes they should install the apron) but if they don't then it is unnecessary. If the person is seeing signs of racoon road kill or other signs of potential predators that is one indicator to install a apron, skunks are another problem. It all depends on the space the person has. Its much cheaper just to buy traps then having a big apron around there coop. Too maintain space in your backyard I would suggest putting the fencing under the coop. If the person has a big enough backyard then yes they should install the apron instead of the traps. But if they have the space like me then they should just put the fencing under and set some traps. For a big backyard setting up rodent traps are useless you can only maintain the population of rodent and snakes by keep the grass short but they could still hide under rocks and more. For a small backyard you can easily wipe out the rodent population with traps and keep the snakes away.