Predator Proofing

[wenracr]

We’ll be moving from Florida to more acreage in Tennessee and I’m sure there’ll be more predators. Has anyone ever buried barbed wire in a trench around the perimeter of a chicken coop? If so, how effective is it?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Barbed wire, no, but I do have about 2' of hardware cloth skirting around the run to prevent anything from digging under. It has worked well so far.

 

[wenracr]

Barbed wire, no, but I do have about 2' of hardware cloth skirting around the run to prevent anything from digging under. It has worked well so far.

Thank you. I forgot all about the hardware cloth. That would be easier to manage. How long have you had it established?

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Thank you. I forgot all about the hardware cloth. That would be easier to manage. How long have you had it established?

I've had my predator proofed run and coop set up for about 2 years now with zero issues. I didn't bury the skirt, though some people do. I used the really long landscape Staples to pin mine down every few inches and it's bolted to the run. Predators usually try to dig close to the base of the run so the 2' of skirting really seems to have done the trick. We have racoons, foxes, owls, Hawks, and opossums to contend with mostly. There's are others like bobcats and coyotes but they don't seem to be an issue at my house. Good luck!

 

[wenracr]

I've had my predator proofed run and coop set up for about 2 years now with zero issues. I didn't bury the skirt, though some people do. I used the really long landscape Staples to pin mine down every few inches and it's bolted to the run. Predators usually try to dig close to the base of the run so the 2' of skirting really seems to have done the trick. We have racoons, foxes, owls, Hawks, and opossums to contend with mostly. There's are others like bobcats and coyotes but they don't seem to be an issue at my house. Good luck!

Thank you for the ideas. Best of luck to you as well.

 

[PouleNoire]

Another vote for the hardware cloth skirt

 

[wenracr]

Another vote for the hardware cloth skirt

Thank you! It’s nice to be able to have a place like BYC to go to for ideas and support. Like the long staples... I would never have thought of that because of the sandy and loose soil of Florida that I’m accustomed to. Tennessee has clay which holds things down much better.