Predator Proofing Question

[Nsampsel]

My 3 coops have hardware cloth ranging in size from 1/2 inch on the sides of the banty pen to 2x3 on the LF pen with regular chicken wire around the bottom 2ft as further protection & to keep chicks in. Top & bottoms of all runs are 1 1/2x2 or 3x4 & bottoms are covered in a couple inches of sand.

Like you, I'm in town (tho I have a woods out back due to my particular location) and have only had cats, dogs & other birds to deal with. The worst of these is the cats. Don't think they can't climb your fence!!! I regularly find not only my own cat (who knows better than to touch my birds) but about 8 neighborhood cats perched on top of the pen watching my babies or even just sunbathing up off the ground (cats are like that). My cat seems to think it is her personal jungle gym & climbs right up the wire.

 

[hearts34]

We are in the process of building our coop and run. I wanted to use chicken wire for the run since we live in a city. I have never seen a racoon, rat, coyote, or anything like that in the 27 years I have lived here. We do have hawks, cats, and dogs that have gotten loose but I think the wire would be able to keep them out. Our yard is fenced with a 6-foot fence which keeps stray dogs at bay. Our neighbor has had chickens for 5 years and has never lost any to predation. He used construction fencing for his coop. I just couldn't imagine having that bright orange, so I wanted to go with the chicken wire. About five other people I know with chickens also uses chicken wire and have had no problems.

I really don't want to spring for hardware cloth if I don't have to. If we are in a safe area is chicken wire fine to use?

I used chicken wire on my run primarily due to its size and the fact that I wanted the top covered as well. I had planned on securing my coop every night and did for several weeks. In my particular situation, I have come to find that a good offensive deterrent is about the best defense you can have when it comes to protection. I have the best varmit dog ever. And I cant' trust him around chicks, but he does not bother my adult chickens at all. He really just wants to play with the chicks.
I live in an area where I have seen foxes, coyotes, coons, possums and the occasional bobcat in my back yard and woods near my home. However, in the last three years since I have had my dog, the only place I have seen possums and coons are either dead or up a tree.
The others instinctively know to avoid the area.

I would take a chance with chicken wire if it was me. You may want to speak with your neighbors and see if they have seen any coons or possums in the area. If so, you may want to go with dog wire 2" x 4" rectangle, and cover the bottom of it with chicken wire.

 

[hearts34]

I would add that the most secure pen I ever saw was a converted dog run made out of chainlink fencing and covered with chicken wire and corrugated metal for the roof.
There was an electric fence strand along the bottom, and an electric fence strand along the top. As secure as all of this sounds, the guy who built it, said he still has an occasional loss to a coon.

 

[taylorashleyd]

I would add that the most secure pen I ever saw was a converted dog run made out of chainlink fencing and covered with chicken wire and corrugated metal for the roof.
There was an electric fence strand along the bottom, and an electric fence strand along the top. As secure as all of this sounds, the guy who built it, said he still has an occasional loss to a coon.

Wow, that is insane! I definitely can't go that crazy with it. I don't want to bankrupt myself over chickens.

 

[Nsampsel]

Wow, that is insane! I definitely can't go that crazy with it. I don't want to bankrupt myself over chickens.

Your best bet may be a small entirely fenced run & free-range in your fenced yard under supervision as practical.

 

[taylorashleyd]

Your best bet may be a small entirely fenced run & free-range in your fenced yard under supervision as practical.

Due to a proposed city ordinance we can't allow our chickens to free range and fine is horribly high if you do. They will be in the run during the day and locked in the coop at night.

 

[Nsampsel]

Due to a proposed city ordinance we can't allow our chickens to free range and fine is horribly high if you do. They will be in the run during the day and locked in the coop at night.

I'm in the city too, so I'm with ya there. I just made my coop & run as secure as possible with as much space as I could afford to fence while still leaving yard for the kids. My kids do occasionally get 1-2 birds out at a time to play with them, but they have ahold of them pretty much the entire time. More often my kids can be found in the coop with the chickens...along with several neighbor kids...lol

 

[taylorashleyd]

I'm in the city too, so I'm with ya there. I just made my coop & run as secure as possible with as much space as I could afford to fence while still leaving yard for the kids. My kids do occasionally get 1-2 birds out at a time to play with them, but they have ahold of them pretty much the entire time. More often my kids can be found in the coop with the chickens...along with several neighbor kids...lol

I normally wouldn't mind and might let them roam for a few hours, but our city code enforcement is insane! I was doing some floor repairs and set our couch and coffee table outside on our front yard for a couple hours and they much have driven by because we got hit with a $150 fine! I doubt any of our neighbors called it in because they are all fed up with code enforcement as much as we are. The fine for a loose chicken is going to be $1,000 if the ordinance passes.

 

[Nsampsel]

OMG!!! That's rediculous!!! Tell them to go chase the lose dogs & cats & leave the poor defenseless chickens alone. As for the furniture...what do they do if you are moving???? Fine you for sitting a dresser in the yard for 5 minutes while you carry in a couch????

 

[rikithemonk]

I would add that the most secure pen I ever saw was a converted dog run made out of chain link fencing and covered with chicken wire and corrugated metal for the roof.
There was an electric fence strand along the bottom, and an electric fence strand along the top. As secure as all of this sounds, the guy who built it, said he still has an occasional loss to a coon.

Yeah, each type of enclosure has its own strengths and weaknesses. Chain link cant be torn, but the predator can grab your chicken and pull parts through. That's the situation where you come home and find a dead chicken missing its head and one of its legs. Nothing will ever be predator proof, you simply have to ask your self if you are happy with the security that you have provided to the animals you have taken responsibility for. (wow, that's a long sentence)

Riki