Super Frustrated! Predators are figuring it out!

[chookchick]

If you already have the chicken wire up, you could put 2 by 4 welded wire over the top of it (for the run, not coop). Might save a bit of money and time. Don't forget to put an apron around the bottom too--and lock them up tight at night!

I think the electric would help a lot too. Don't think a radio would be effective for a very long time, though it might help temporarily, but don't depend on it.

If you can get rid of the coons that know where dinner is served, and discourage the rest, you can get a handle on this! Best of luck!

 

[kwgrid]

How do raccoons and possums get through the chicken wire? It's some tough stuff.

My pen chicken wire is staked through at regular intervals at the bottom with fencing stakes and is secured with staples as well as heavy duty fencing u-nails. I also have heavy landscape timbers along the fence bottom in most places and some parts have heavy pavers along the fence line. Where the top is wrapped, it is laced with wire where it connects. Also, the coop and run are in my backyard which is also fenced but with ordinary welded fencing. And I have a dachshund that will go after raccoons or possums. She killed a possum one year but that was before I had the chickens. Anyway, is that enough to keep them out?

 

[Grandmajean]

I am so sorry for your loss. As I just lost all mine, I really appreciated these suggestions. I am going to improve my coop and chicken yard before I get another flock. I never thought of the electric wire. I have one I used for a dog years ago. I will be dusting it off!

 

[Bizzybirdy]

>>How do raccoons and possums get through the chicken wire? It's some tough stuff<<

Very easily! Racoons can bite right through chicken wire or pull it out by the staples....they are VERY strong and vicious and chicken wire is totally useless for keeping them and possums out. Also, they will pull the chicken's head or wing off right through it.

Great

that your little dog got a possum but I would watch he doesn't run into a racoon. They will kill or hurt him really bad. One racoon killed my big old pet cat a few months ago.... that coon is history.

 

[kwgrid]

Quote:
WOW!!! I could hardly cut through it with wire snips when putting it up. They must have some set of teeth. What can I do to prevent that other than covering the whole run area with hardware cloth....it's expensive and I have a good sized run? It's completely enclosed with chicken wire including the top. Overlaps are wired together by looping the wire like 'sewing' through the holes. The bottoms have extra fencing so that it lays out a ways and that is staked down with fencing stakes and then landscape timbers over that. What else can I do that's not to expensive?

P. S. Very sorry about your pet. That's awful. ;(

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
That's why you get the dog. Do the best you can with your setup, make sure they are all protected, and the dog takes care of the rest.

To get into a secure setup, I would think a coon has to spend time finding the weak point, then working at the weak point until it can get in. With a good guard dog, it wouldn't have the time. The dog would hear it and be all over that thing.

Provided the coon was even dumb enough to come into the dog's turf, of course.

 

[kwgrid]

Quote:
That's why you get the dog. Do the best you can with your setup, make sure they are all protected, and the dog takes care of the rest.

To get into a secure setup, I would think a coon has to spend time finding the weak point, then working at the weak point until it can get in. With a good guard dog, it wouldn't have the time. The dog would hear it and be all over that thing.

Provided the coon was even dumb enough to come into the dog's turf, of course.

I was advised not to let my dachshund go after a coon. She's bigger than a miniature but smaller than a standard (suppose to be a mini but isn't). And she's not out there all the time....especially at night. She sleeps with me.

The pen is fairly close to my house but my little house is pretty tight and I don't know if we could hear a ruckus if a coon or a possum were to stir something up.

I was told and find it hard to believe that a raccoon can bite through chicken wire. It was tough to cut it with wire cutters. I can't imagine the 'pound weight' of their jaws to be able to do that. If that's true, God help my little dog if she tangled with one. Between that and their claws she'd be a goner for sure.

Thank you very much for the reassurance. It helps.

 

[skeeter03]

If you get a dog get it for the sole purpose of guarding your chickens - we keep ours tied on outside the coop every night - I know given half chance my dog will go "play" with the chickens but he is tied on so that he cannot reach the run to dig under and get them - we havnt had a problem since we tied him on there at night - he barks if anything comes near scaring it away and that is half the battle - most critters wont bother if it is going to be to much hassle.
I was going to get hardware cloth to but dang i cant afford another 300$ to do the outside run with cloth and for the life of me I cant find a cheap electric fence the cheapest was 200$ just for the box not the wire.
I might start buying the cloth as I can afford it and start doing my run that way.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
That's why you get the dog. Do the best you can with your setup, make sure they are all protected, and the dog takes care of the rest.

To get into a secure setup, I would think a coon has to spend time finding the weak point, then working at the weak point until it can get in. With a good guard dog, it wouldn't have the time. The dog would hear it and be all over that thing.

Provided the coon was even dumb enough to come into the dog's turf, of course.

I was advised not to let my dachshund go after a coon. She's bigger than a miniature but smaller than a standard (suppose to be a mini but isn't). And she's not out there all the time....especially at night. She sleeps with me.

Well, I was talking about a real dog, not a toy.

No, seriously, keep the little guy for a pet, and get a good guard dog and train it well, use it as a work dog. You won't have to worry about it harming your chickens or running off it is properly trained and the right breed. My lab is great, and does everything. Great pet, and works hard at protecting our birds without ever trying to harm them, but we are getting another one for the back of the property.

Here's a good site I was referred to about guardian dogs...

http://www.lgd.org/

 

[kwgrid]

Yeh, a REAL dog is what I need. However, she's a pretty potent little thing. She does a great job of keeping my sister's cats out of the yard (sister lives right next to me and has more than a dozen cats). She never hurts them, just runs them off....and doesn't chase them when we're in my sister's yard. She seems to know the difference.

Thanks for the link. I like having the info even though I can't 'go there' as they say. I can't deal with another dog. There are times when I get frustrated with he one I have as much as I love her. I can't afford vet bills, food, etc., for another one.....especially one bigger than her.