sugestions for predator proofing my coop?

[ardead]

I 'am very new to the whole chicken thing, i have been working on my coop for the last month and have gone a little over board with the size of everything. my old moto is "go big , or go home". The inside of my coop is aprox. 36'x 16'. that leads out to a coverd run that is about 8'x50'. I have framed in the outside of the run and coverd it with 1" chicken wire. I plan to put a lingth of wire on the outside along the ground to prevent somthing from digging in. does any one else have any sugestions on predator proofing my coop.

 

[crittersitter]

Chicken wire will only keep the chickens in. Predators will get through it without a problem. Hardwire cloth is much stronger, more expensive but worth it. I used screws and washers to attach it to the frame.

 

[rnrterp]

Just like crittersitter said, no chicken wire. Sounds like your chickens shouldn't be crowded in that size coop though.

 

[arch_cpj]

consider a line or two of electric fence wire its cheap and a VERY good deterent

 

[Ridgerunner]

I assume the length of wire along the ground is something like the aprons shown in this link.

Alberta Aprons
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex916

I used 2" x 4" welded wire around my run to keep the dogs and such out. I don't remember what gauge it is, probably 14 gauge. Most of my run is covered with metal so the welded wire goes flush up to the top. Around the part that is not covered, the welded wire extends above the supports by a couple of feet, so anything trying to climb over the wire will bend the wire back so it cannot climb over it. I have chicken wire around the bottom of the run in addition to the welded wire. That is to stop the chickens from sticking their head out where a predator can take it off. It also keeps young chicks in the run. The run is still vulnerable if something climbs on top of the shed my coop is in or if they climb on top of the covered portion of the run.

I went with the philosophy of building a somewhat predator proof run and a very secure coop. I know my run is not totally predator proof. I have seen a fox and a couple of coyotes during the daytime, but with my dogs around during the day I figure my biggest risk is at night. At night the chickens are locked in securely with carabiners or snap locks on all the hasps. All ventilation openings are covered with hardware cloth. I have a hardware cloth apron around the coop as well as the run since some predators can climb into the run. As I said, I wanted a very secure coop.

I don't know if I have given you any ideas you can use or not. It is difficult to make any large run really secure. Even if I finished covering mine, I would not trust it at night. Given a few hours to work, a raccoon can do amazing things if he really wants to. But I feel very happy with my coop.

Good luck!!!

 

[FiveHens]

I had the same question-

The roof of our new run is chicken wire, as well as the 1.5 foot "skirt" (We also buried the hardware cloth on the side 6")

Should that pose a problem? Are there any predators that can get through chicken wire on the roof? (BTW there is a tree overhanging it)
Thanks!