Raccoons. They can get in but not out.

[Tigurary]

I just finished my chicken run in our new house which is located in a woody area. We were getting some critter invading the run at night by digging under the wire (which is 4feet out from each side) all the way into the run and pushing up past the wire there (it only extends 4 feet in). We nailed the wire to the ground with 12inch metal stakes/nails and placed a layer of heavy bricks on top of that around the edge and then put more stakes against the bricks so they couldn't be easily pushed or pulled. We also put an extra top layer of thick nylon netting over the wire roof.

All that work and this is what I woke up to when I went to put the girls out. They couldn't get out and were just sleeping there. (The girls were fine I make sure to lock them away at night). My husband helped me get them out (open the gate door and wack them till they fall and run to it). But now what do I do.

 

[bobbi-j]

Secure your run even better, since they’ll keep coming back. (They wouldn’t have been leaving under their own power here. They would have been “relocated” to a nice place underground.)) I would suggest an electric fence around your run.

 

[Folly's place]

x2! Those cute little raccoons would be underground here too, not let loose!
Chicken wire is easy for critters to get through, and won't protect your chickens from most predators.
Electric fencing is a great idea! @Howard E , @cmom , and Premier1supplies.com are all worth looking up about it.
How did these get in? They will be back, with more relatives!
Mary

 

[Howard E]

My guess is those coons were climbing the side of the run, got their head under the top netting and plowed their way on up and in. No such way to get back out.

Don't know the OP, but if they are open to constructive critique of their setup, I see problems galore, and not just the run.

Would also help to know the location.....meaning season long climate......these birds are going to be subjected to.

 

[cmom]

I have electric wires around my pens and coops, concrete under the gates and good heavy duty netting covering the pens. In some places I dug a foot deep trench under sections of the fence and buried some welded wire which I attached to the bottom of the fence with hog rings. I have seen coons around here but they don't mess with my birds. I realize you didn't loose any birds but it will be just a matter of time. I use the poly rope wire. I got mine at TSC many years ago.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=electric+fence+wire&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

 

[bobbi-j]

The box that they’re sleeping on... is that where your chickens sleep, or is it for feed storage or something?

 

[Tigurary]

The box that they’re sleeping on... is that where your chickens sleep, or is it for feed storage or something?

That's the coop. They've lived in it for their whole lives and it's kept coyotes out at the old location.

 

[bobbi-j]

That's the coop. They've lived in it for their whole lives and it's kept coyotes out at the old location.

How old are they, and how many do you have?

 

[aart]

We were getting some critter invading the run at night by digging under the wire (which is 4feet out from each side) all the way into the run and pushing up past the wire there (it only extends 4 feet in).

Do you have pics of where this happened?

 

[bhp]

My guess is those coons were climbing the side of the run, got their head under the top netting and plowed their way on up and in.

I agree. By your pictures, you need to tighten any loose areas where the netting meets the chicken wire. It's VERY time consuming, but I looped stainless steel wire anywhere one piece of hardware cloth met up to another piece. Sort of like sewing up a seam or rip. Raccoons are crafty little rascals. If I should find one around my coop, I hope to be sportin' a coon-skin cap. I've always one. LOL

Glad they didn't get your chickens.