Predator protection

[Badbart]

I have buried hardware cloth around the run two feet out. I have some old lumber, logs and busted brick laying around I thought about stacking it along the backside of the coop to help prevent animals from digging in.

I'm afraid they might back up and dig behind the logs missing the hardware cloth. Did I mention the wife will KILL me if something gets her chickens...lol

 

[MeepBeep]

Can coons work a slide bolt lock?

Yes... They can figure out most latching systems, best to invest in a keyed or combination lock...

A good rule of thumb, if a 6 year old child can figure it out so can a raccoon...

This is a pretty long read but it's worth the read, start on page 19 of this PDF if you are only interested in their ability to figure out and even remember how to undo different kinds of latches...

https://ia801601.us.archive.org/18/items/jstor-1412576/1412576.pdf

 

[azjustin]

Some desert logic here, I have no idea if it works anywhere else....

We have to fully enclose any animal here, even the 70 lb dogs wouldn't survive at night if not inside. If it's not the small animals eating the food its the coyotes, bobcats, javalina, occasional mountain lion, maybe a fox, mix in a skunk, you get the point....

All of our enclosures have a solid bottom 2' (minimum) to keep the small ones out. Underneath that, is 8x8x16 block (cinder block) fully filled with dirt and set on solid ground to keep the diggers out. In 7 years, there has not been a single trenching kill. Lots of digging, lots of removed claws from concrete block, but no one something has ever gone under the block and into the run (or even close to worry about it).

Hardware cloth and chicken wire in the ground just rusts out before a few years and isn't effective, even in the soil with no moisture. We also do two latches on the gates: one at the the top to keep the children out, another at the bottom to keep the predators out.

Hope that helps.

 

[Ourpeeps123]

I think the chickens will be ok. Predators wouldn't want to dig that far to get to the chickens.

 

[aart]

I'd just cover that mesh with dirt and plant some grass seed.

 

[nomorepets]

Wondering if this is enough protection: I plan to have the chickens in a tall fenced yard, with a bit of chicken wire strung around a corner of the yard to let the dog know to stay on her side away from the chickens, and put the chickens in the coop at night...I'm hoping if the dog is there the racoons stay away, and two huge pines should keep Hawks from being able to land. Any thoughts?

 

[Folly's place]

It will help, but not be very secure. Chicken wire might keep the birds in, but your dog, and anyone else, can go through it. If the coop is really safe, that's 90% of the battle, as long as you are going to lock everyone in every night. Daytime predators do happen, so perfect safety is another story. Mary

 

[JadedPhoenix]

Coons can be bold, particularly if there are more than one. I wouldn't count on your dog keeping them away totally. Speaking of your dog, is the dog PROVEN to be safe with your chickens? If not, that dog will go through in less than 3 seconds when it wants to.

 

[Badbart]

I'm going for a 99.999% safe coop and primary run that can be left open during camping or vaction time. Then I will have a secondary run with chicken wire and bird netting for during the day when we are home. I would be worried about the dogs and raccoon can be very bold.

 

[centrarchid]

Add hotwire to perimeter.