reinforcing coop against predators?

[lilmagill]

I use hotwire and dogs to keep critters away from pens. Hotire does most of that but dogs more flexible. I assume your budget is limited so will not even consider dogs. My low cost approach for protecting pens / coops is to make so hotwire is setup really close to the pens I am trying to protect. So close the predator at ground level is likely to touch fence if close enough to touch pen and it will get zapped. It does not take much of a zap to repel most predators that are simply probing so I use a lower output solar charger. The hotwire is positioned 4-6" from pen and ground. That should be easy to do for a run. Technical challenge is if you have a door you go through a lot like with a walk-in in coop. Then I reinforce corner of windows and door. If door is above ground then make so you can step over hotwire without touching it. Then you can have so hotwire is only an inch or two away from things that will short it out.

wow.
I have a dog and I don't think it was coincidence that it was when we were on vacation and he was being boarded that the first attack happened. i've had chickens for three years and have not had an attack until now. I need to find out if we have weasels in my area...

 

[Chickiemom25]

how do you keep the predator away from your fencing? My killings have all happened in the coop, not the run. They have gotten through the seams of the chicken wire or have broken through the wire at the base to get in. so I plan on putting the 2 x 2 over the chicken wire with minimal seams. Aproned of course. I think it's a raccoon or a fox but I am afraid of weasels now since I have heard that 2 x 2 does not keep weasels out. I set a humane trap 2 nights ago. First night the can of cat food was moved and emptied. Second night... nothing. But today a dead fox was found down the road. could've been him.

use hog rings to attach pieces of wire. they are NOT going to break those and they are so easy to use.

 

[lilmagill]

OK so a 2 x 2" hole will keep out everything but weasels. What about a 1 x 2" hole? Will that keep out weasels? Thanks.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

when I called the Mooresville store all they had was 15 feet of hardware cloth. At a 3 foot height.

They must have only been looking at what is inside, not what is outside. Unless their inventory online is wayyyyy off (you can see prices and what is in stock via the website).

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/c...rBy:&pageView:&minPrice:&maxPrice:&pageSize:&

Woven wire you would have to buy online, though, I think, as I've never seen it in stores where I live.

What are you using to bind your seams. Zip ties can be pulled apart, especially if you are not using the UV resistant type because those will weaken with exposure to the sun.

The smaller hole stuff is usually used on the lower part and then slightly larger holes on the top to make it more cost effective.

Having dogs can be hit or miss. I have two dogs and still see tons of fox turds whenever I am mowing the property. Unless they live outside in close proximity to the coops I wouldn't count on them to be a huge deterrent. And when I find one near my coops I would rather shoot it than have my dogs chase after it. Some of these guys have all sorts of mange and who knows what.

 

[jvls1942]

hog rings are the way to go, and they are easy and quick to install.
i built a couple of wire cages using them for all the corners. works like a charm.

a weasel can get through a 3/4" hole.
if a weasel can get his head through a hole, he can squeeze his body through,, just like a rat.

If "your guy" doesn't want to do the job right.
find another guy ..

If the preds can push under the fence, then it doesn't matter what you do to the fence.

make an apron all around the bottom of the fence at least a foot wide. to deter digging.

reinforcing 3 feet from the ground up will do wonders . If that isn't enough, then just add another round from 3 feet on up..
overlap it about an inch or two to reinforce the seam.

I have Maremma LGD as shown in my avatar.
I have not lost a chicken to preds for 8 years, since I got these dogs. we don't even bother closing the people door on the chicken coop at night. and my chickens free range all day.

and before you even say it, we have foxes, coonx, wolves, bears and we live along a rural river so all of the weasel family are along it. in fact, we don't have any stray dogs or cats visit us either..

 

[centrarchid]

If a mouse can get into your coop the standard way a mouse does, by tunneling, then so can a weasel as the weasel goes through those burrows to catch the mouse.

 

[lilmagill]

They must have only been looking at what is inside, not what is outside. Unless their inventory online is wayyyyy off (you can see prices and what is in stock via the website).

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/catalog/farm-ranch/fencing#facet:3074457345616676705871011081001011003287105114101&facetLimit:morelink_ads_f10006_ntk_cs|3074457345616676705871011081001011003287105114101|ads_f10006_ntk_cs:"Welded+Wire"&productBeginIndex:0&orderBy:&pageView:&minPrice:&maxPrice:&pageSize:&

Woven wire you would have to buy online, though, I think, as I've never seen it in stores where I live.

What are you using to bind your seams. Zip ties can be pulled apart, especially if you are not using the UV resistant type because those will weaken with exposure to the sun.

The smaller hole stuff is usually used on the lower part and then slightly larger holes on the top to make it more cost effective.

Having dogs can be hit or miss. I have two dogs and still see tons of fox turds whenever I am mowing the property. Unless they live outside in close proximity to the coops I wouldn't count on them to be a huge deterrent. And when I find one near my coops I would rather shoot it than have my dogs chase after it. Some of these guys have all sorts of mange and who knows what.

he is going to weave the seams together and then reinforce it with wire.

 

[lilmagill]

hog rings are the way to go, and they are easy and quick to install.
i built a couple of wire cages using them for all the corners. works like a charm.

a weasel can get through a 3/4" hole.
if a weasel can get his head through a hole, he can squeeze his body through,, just like a rat.

If "your guy" doesn't want to do the job right.
find another guy ..

If the preds can push under the fence, then it doesn't matter what you do to the fence.

make an apron all around the bottom of the fence at least a foot wide. to deter digging.

reinforcing 3 feet from the ground up will do wonders . If that isn't enough, then just add another round from 3 feet on up..
overlap it about an inch or two to reinforce the seam.

I have Maremma LGD as shown in my avatar.
I have not lost a chicken to preds for 8 years, since I got these dogs. we don't even bother closing the people door on the chicken coop at night. and my chickens free range all day.

and before you even say it, we have foxes, coonx, wolves, bears and we live along a rural river so all of the weasel family are along it. in fact, we don't have any stray dogs or cats visit us either..

I already have aprons. he is going to create aprons with the new stuff. He builds coops for a living. He is going to put one by 2 inch wire fencing over my existing chicken wire. We are only in this house for 1 to 2 more years and hopefully that will work for that length of time.

 

[aart]

Best place to buy HC is amazon 48" x 50' or 100'.
I don't think they make it in 60 or 72" widths.

 

[Henny Penny's Chick]

What kind of flooring do you use for the run?