super racoon ? or weight lifting possum..

[charlotteda]

Getting ready to finish my chain link dog kennel run... I know I will need wire over the top to keep out climbing predators and hawks. I want this chain link run to be as predator proof as possible so I wont have to lock the pop door each night. Here is where I need your help...

I understand about lining the bottom half of the chain link with welded wire and about critter that might dig under.. However, I dont understand how a coon or possum could get thru chain link.. arent they too big for that ? Do I have to rewire the whole pen and if so can I use chicken wire since the chain link would provide strength.

thanks

 

[#1California Chick]

Racoons will reach through the chain link, grab the chickens by the neck and pull them through the fence. Read some of the posts under "Predators" and you will see some of the problems that others have had.

Good luck!!

 

[NancyDz]

The reasoning for lining it with smaller hardware wire is so that the raccoons can't stick their hand in and grab your birds, they will try to pull a chicken through the holes in chain link, usually killing the chicken in the process or pulling off limbs or heads. Some have experienced chicken wire being torn by raccoons, that is why it's not suggested. It's called chicken wire because it keeps chickens in.. not for it's strength against predators. I would
still go with lining it with 1/2 " harware wire, you can buy it by the roll for fairly cheap. At the least I would go with coated chicken wire as it's harder to tear.


Nancy

 

[andehens]

I had a racoon rip the roof off the corner of my shed once, theyr'e pretty strong! Another thing, I've had my big dogs tear up the chain link, you'll be glad you added the hard ware wire! My chicken coop is a dog run lined with hardware wire, and I have a wooden roof on top, with a little added run area under the roof. So far so good!

 

[charlotteda]

Should I line the whole 7 ft side walls with the hardware cloth or will a 3 ft section along the bottom be sufficient. ? I am mainly concerned about Mr. Possum and Mrs Racoon here.

 

[Monica B]

I would like to see a pic. I think this is what I need to do. Do you know if a possum will climb the fenceing???

 

[kari_dawn]

I put a three foot swath of hardware cloth around the length of the bottom of my run. I did not cover the whole thing. But both opossums and raccoons CAN climb chain link with ease.

Just remember, wether you are in urban settings or rural, there are more predators around than you think. Things like minks can squeeze through anything larger than a half inch opening. They are not above sqeezing into your coop and killing your birds.

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

I use hardware cloth because of mink and weasels also and it is strong enough to stop coons and possum. Heavy gauge 1/2 " and it will last. Anything else is a false savings.

 

[harveyhorses]

coons are just mini bears. I would go 3ft with hardware cloth. It is sooo much fun attaching it to the chain link. My roll
got away from me and attacked. Think like a predator, look for any loopholes.

 

[speckledhen]

If you don't want to lock a pop door at night, you're going to have to spend some $$ to cover the entire thing with hardware cloth and not even leave a 1" opening, period. Raccoons climb, weasels and rats can get into 1" openings, etc.

Best thing to do is make a predator proof coop and lock the doors at night with a raccoon proof latch or latches. You have no idea how many predators can get into a chainlink pen when they have all night long to work at it. You'll wake up one morning to a slaughter if you don't either cover the entire thing with hardware cloth, plus add dig barriers or lock them inside at night.

Raccoons don't have to get through it--they'll grab a chicken with their hands, pull part of it through and eat it alive, one bite at a time.