Testing the coop predator-proof-ness

[CUDA]

Now weren't you the one just talking about taking more beer to your hubby, and you wonder about how good his workmanship is? lol

just funnin'

 

[John T]

I read this some where but can’t remember. I live on a farm with other non-chicken friendly animals. Before you put your chicks in the coop, place a couple cans of tuna inside the coop. Pour flour around the cans so you can see what direction, if any, the predators get in the coop. If you have an opening into the coop, the predators will find it to get to the tuna. Better they get the cans of tuna instead of your chickens.

 

[Dilly]

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Why only male urine? Come on now pee is pee.

 

[chcknrs]

Cuz males produce more testosterone than women do, and the scent of the hormone testosterone is what drives them off. Women on their monthly can actually attract animals.

 

[CritterHill]

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[panner123]

If that coop turns out to be predator proof, you just became a milloniare.

When someone around here ask me to build them a predator proof coop I just laugh. The only way to figure out if it is predator proof, is trap a black bear put it in the coop, place fresh furit and fish around the outside of the coop. If the bear is still inside the next day, it is predator proof.

 

[CritterHill]

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Alright, this just screams for me to post my husband's actual reply to me initially when I asked him about trapping (I thought the sarcasm level was a bit over the top initially, but since CUDA seems to think I have a sense of humor, I will return the favor

"We'll change the name to 'Slaughter Hill', or maybe just 'The Kill Zone'. One unfortunate consequence is that we will have to kill our own cats. Some kind of minefield will also be needed to keep any new predators from entering the property once the perimeter is secured, and the neighbors will have to get used to frequent shotgun fire as I take out hawks and vultures."

If we REALLY want predator proof!

 

[whatnow?]

We're getting closer to finishing the coop and I'm having the same hesitation. Only difference is that my chickens are so big, I have to get them out of the house, ASAP. I was going to bait the coop to check for predators, but figured that it probably still stinks of fresh paint, so why try to attractive the devils... I'd probably only get the neighbor's adopted feral cat, anyway.

 

[Carolina Chicken Man]

It's probably easier to make the coop predator proof (especially with a floor) than the run. Biggest predator issue in the daytime would be hawks, but they are easy to keep out with chicken wire over the top of the run.

Foxes hunt mostly at dawn and dusk, and racoons are nocturnal. It is safer to lock your chickens in the coop at night.

Oh, forgot about coyotes. We don't have many of them around, so I don't know too much about them. Just run your fence underground 12" or so to discourage digging.

Like someone said, you can't make it 100%