Should I screen in the bottom?

[birdwrangler057]

Hi everyone!
So I recently built a new A-frame coop form my adelescent bantams. I am leaving tomorrow for 3 weeks, should I go ahead and screen in the bottom, or do y'all think that is unnecessary? I am kind of worried about snakes, we have a dog, so the raccoons and possums are not really a problem.
Thanks!


Here are some photos of the coop...

 

[CapricornFarm]

If you are talking coop security, more is better. Will your dog chase off other dogs? They are one of the worse predators because they kill all the chickens they can catch. If your dog is inside at night or chained, that is when the wild critters do most of the damage. I vote yes to wire on the bottom. Good luck.

 

[birdwrangler057]

Um, no, but we never have any dog attacks, or even sightings, and I've had chickens for 3 and 1/2 years. She is in the house at night, but we let her run free outdoors every morning and night for a few hours, since we've had her, we have not seen any raccoons or possums (not one). Our biggest problem is rat snakes, they come for eggs all the time. Okay, I'll wire the bottom, thanks!

 

[CapricornFarm]

Better safe than sorry. I didn't think we had possums or coons in the city in FL until i saw a big ol coon walking down the middle of the road one night! Then another night i went out to see what the toy dogs were barking about, and thought it was a long haired cat. After i put the dogs away i went back out and found out it was a big possum.