Predator proofing my coop from digging critters--booby trap style!

[peepinator]

Hey folks, after reading so much about digging critters, and reading about different ideas, I came across an idea one guy said about burying spikes, like a booby trap all around the coop, so I thought I'd do just that! I dug a foot down and a foot out all around the perimeter of the fence and attached field fencing to bottom of the erect coop fence and cut sections & bent up spikes--in every which direction--out of those sections...making it a nasty-sharp-poking experience for anything that tries to dig under my fence. Ouch!!! I got poked just installing it all!!! My coop wire is made of field fencing all around and then there's 1" chicken wire around that (4 feet high) and then there's 1" chicken wire covering the whole top area beyond the 4 feet of the double fencing. Feeling secure!

Here's a few pics:

Cutting the wire:

Bending the spikes:

Close up of the spikes bent:

A view of the trench with the completed wire:

A couple of close up pics of all the spikes:

If I have any trouble with coons trying to chew through the overhead wire...I'll electrify it!!!

Don't think I'll have trouble though.

Anyhow...have a great day BYC peeps

 

[CalebtheChicken]

WO! Maximum security chicken run!

 

[joebryant]

The apron idea is a good one, but you might also want to lay another one that goes straight out three feet and is covered with dirt.
As for your field fencing, many predators can squeeze through the large holes easily, especially after shredding the chicken wire that is meant for keeping chickens in, not predators out.

 

[peepinator]

Yeah, I am mainly worried about during the day...at night, chicken'll be locked in tight. If something starts digging or tearing the chicken wire apart with their teeth during the day...they'll have to be quiet enough and fast enough to escape two giant chow/akita dogs...as the coop fence in inside their dog run! Unless a coon, skunk or fox wants to climb the fence to get inside during the day (they're nocturnal so I doubt it) and take the chance of being ripped apart and becoming dog food, they won't get to the fence to put their hands through or try and dig! Coons, foxes and skunks can't fit through the field fencing even if they got through the chicken wire. The only thing they could do is reach inside the fence...but then again, they'd have to do it during the day...with my dogs patrolling the coop. If anything tries...we will install electric wire around and on the whole thing & they'll be toast then for sure!

 

[calista]

That's a very impressive approach to predator-proofing that seems like it would work very well even without electric wire added, but I also worry about the size of the wire you're using for the fence.

Also, do you have neighbors with pet dogs and kids close by? Chickens in the yard might be construed as an "attractive nuisance" by your homeowner's policy, thus putting curious pets and children in danger. Might be a good idea to check that out.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Never mind, just pretend I didn't comment.

 

[ekemily]

geezums... you can also get some old scrap wood and send some nails through it and then lay it so that the nails are sticking up. Your method put holes in your fencing. But, it might not be a great idea if your dogs step on nails...

looks great

 

[peepinator]

@ekemily...there's no holes in the erected fence...just intermittently in the stuff laid in the ground all along the fence that is buried. If the dogs dig...they'll get poked too...that's the idea--ANYTHING that tries to dig will get poked and deterred.

@calista...we have neighbors in the distance...with kids and dogs. We're not in the city though...we live in the mountains of Idaho and can have chickens or other animals...I'm on 1.5 acres...with no trespassing signs up. No dogs or kids can get to my coop without climbing into my dogs area and if they do...their mincemeat and it'll be a sad day for the owners who aren't minding their dogs or their children. LOL...no dogs or kids ever come to my property though so no worries! The size field fencing is the 2x4 sized squares plus the 1" chicken wire around that. They won't break through the field fencing even if they get through the chicken wire...the only thing a coon could do is reach through if it was brave enough to climb the dog pen to get near the chicken run during the day--if they startled the chickens...and my dogs hear them...they'll be lunch is a hot second! At night...my chickens are locked in the coop at night--safe from everything

 

[gettinaclue]

I think it's a great idea! I even told my husband about it. He said he thought about doing it as well when we laid ours but decided against it in the event we needed to dig that area up and get caught in our own trap.

I still think it's a great idea though. I would have done the same thing if I had thought about it.

I would have been scared to put it in the dog run though (not that we have one). Brave.

 

[mgw]

Im not diggin under there I dont care how hungry I am! looks formidable good job that looks like it was some hard work for july temps.