They chew through hardware cloth?!?

[Appalachickens]

Good catch!

I would also trim around the coop so that the hardware cloth is positioned between two pieces of board. If it is only stapled to one board it is a lot easier for a predator to rip through the material.

How did you attach the welded wire fencing? You could probably accomplish the same strength by using screws and large washers.

The point being, you want them to have to really fight to rip it open. (Reinforcing it like this gives you time to find and fix b/c it usually takes a couple of days for them to work it open). You can accomplish this by either trimming out the coop or using the screws and washers in strategic locations all around the coop.

I agree with the second board on the other side of the HC/fencing. We did that with our run and afterwards I pulled on it as hard as I could - it wasn't budging. (Of course, a bear might beg to differ.) I have 1/2 inch hardware cloth over the entire run and an addition of welded wire fencing on the bottom 3 feet. It's an open coop, so the run has to be secure.

 

[DalePutnam]

Interesting photo. That straight line across the top looks like it may be an area of weakness. Instead of something chewing through hardware cloth I'd expect something to tear it, similar to what happened in the attached thread. I don't know what part of the world you are in or what your potential predators are.

Dog Vs. Hardware cloth... | BackYard Chickens - Learn How to Raise Chickens



Patch that section of hardware cloth with other hardware cloth to keep small predators out. Then use a heavier wire mesh on top of it to keep larger predators out. I used a 2" x 4" welded wire mesh fencing but can't remember what gauge it was. Fairly heavy.

Your connections can be your weak point. Make sure it is firmly attached so they can't just pull it loose.

People can go years without a problem showing up. You got hit within 12 hours. That could have been something going after the chicken feed and not the chickens. That just shows how inconsistent this stuff can be. A motion activated game camera could be enlightening but I never got one.

After numerous losses, I obtained a "blink" system and first nite it alarmed at 2:30 am.. checked the camera rather than run out to see what had tripped the motion chicken yard light. Saw two skunks, yelled thru the camera.. they scooted away.. THREE minutes later, a racoon sauntered in to finish the meal... The next night/morning a fox came by. Didn't used to have any predators here. They are transient.