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.

 

[stvcoops]

First 24 hours as a chicken mama and loving it! My mom and I are excited to be doing this together.

Our girls are in an elevated henhouse with an attached run. This morning there was a hole in the hardware cloth leading into the run. Thankfully, they were safe in the henhouse. (See, ladies, you really did need to go in there!)

The chickens were here less than 12 hours, and we already have predators knocking. I’m stunned they were able to chew through 1/4” hardware cloth. What do you do when hardware cloth isn’t enough? We also have a skirt of hardware cloth extending 3’ out from the coop. Any suggestions for increasing our defenses?

The 1/4" hardware cloth wire can be cut with a dull pair of scissors. It's ok as a skirting to stop things from digging, or to keep snakes out. But not anything that would keep even mice, or rats out because of how thin it is. Minimum should be 1/2" 19g hardware cloth. The best (and of course the most expensive) is the 1/2" x 1"
16g wire. We have to use a grinder to work with that stuff. It's the only wire I'd say is truly predator proof up to a mountain lion size predator. (I've been building coops for almost 17yrs now, so this comes from years of experience).

 

[Clarkchris]

First 24 hours as a chicken mama and loving it! My mom and I are excited to be doing this together.

Our girls are in an elevated henhouse with an attached run. This morning there was a hole in the hardware cloth leading into the run. Thankfully, they were safe in the henhouse. (See, ladies, you really did need to go in there!)

The chickens were here less than 12 hours, and we already have predators knocking. I’m stunned they were able to chew through 1/4” hardware cloth. What do you do when hardware cloth isn’t enough? We also have a skirt of hardware cloth extending 3’ out from the coop. Any suggestions for increasing our defenses?

Cover your hardware cloth with regular 1 inch space chicken wire then it won’t be chewed through that could be a good size rat the chicken didn’t do that

 

[Appalachickens]

Cover your hardware cloth with regular 1 inch space chicken wire then it won’t be chewed through that could be a good size rat the chicken didn’t do that

But anything that can tear HC can also tear chicken wire, which is fairly flimsy stuff. I'd go with a stronger welded wire type fencing over the HC.

 

[Folly's place]

Here's our covered run wall:

It's on a concrete foundation, with 1/2" hardware cloth stapled to the framing with fence staples, and the lower 4' of walls covered in 2"x4" woven wire fencing stapled, and then further attached to the building framing with 1'x4' boards screwed in. Solid! When bears arrive we will add electric fencing wires.
MaryView attachment 4168970

In winter the lower 7' of the run walls are covered in rolled vinyl sheeting, with still plenty of ventilation.

 

[Clucktown]

So far so good! The bottom 30” is being wrapped in cage wire. The side of the coop that faces away from the house has been done. We also got a camera with an alert if it detects activity.

With all the thunder and lightning this week I haven’t been able to install everything yet. We have a motion detector flood light shining on the side of the coop facing the house (not wrapped yet), so we’re keeping an eye on it.

We think it might have been the neighbor’s dog. We saw her on our property when this started. When she was back again the next day and went straight to the same spot like she was trying to put her nose through... She didn’t look innocent!

Thanks to everyone for the he

It is legal in most areas to eradicate dogs that wander at large and harass livestock and poultry.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It is legal in most areas to eradicate dogs that wander at large and harass livestock and poultry.

It is legal in many areas to kill a dog that is actively attacking your livestock and poultry. It is illegal in many areas to kill a dog that is just on your property and is not actively attacking your livestock and poultry. I consider it a good thing to know what the laws actually are where I am instead of guessing and assuming. It could have made a $25,000 difference to a guy that thought a dog was fair game because it was on his property. When I shot a dog that was killing my chickens I took photos of the dead chickens so I could prove it was in defense of my chickens. I was legal. The guy that paid the $25,000 fine was not.

 

[Clucktown]

It is legal in many areas to kill a dog that is actively attacking your livestock and poultry. It is illegal in many areas to kill a dog that is just on your property and is not actively attacking your livestock and poultry. I consider it a good thing to know what the laws actually are where I am instead of guessing and assuming. It could have made a $25,000 difference to a guy that thought a dog was fair game because it was on his property. When I shot a dog that was killing my chickens I took photos of the dead chickens so I could prove it was in defense of my chickens. I was legal. The guy that paid the $25,000 fine was not.

I am curious, why would anyone be required to pay $25,000 for killing a dog on his property? Was he in the middle of a city and the discharge of a firearm was considered dangerous? Most in the country just grab a shovel and call it a day. Hunters around here are not amused when dogs just wander near their tree stands.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Because it was the law.

Of course it is always a grand champion winning hunting dog so very valuable. A dog cannot read a "no trespassing" sign.

A hunter had his dog out and was chasing prey, can't remember what he was hunting, probably a raccoon. The dog treed the prey and was barking under the tree. This was in the country. The property owner shot the dog, not because it was threatening him, anybody else, or any of his animals, just barking at the treed prey.

The dog owner could not go onto private property to retrieve his dog without the land owner's permission. The dog was shot before he could ask permission.

This is why I suggest you find out what the local laws are so you know what you can and cannot legally do. At least you know your legal options and what the possible consequences might be so you can make a rational decision. If you don't like the local laws talk to a representative about getting them changed. Good luck if you live in a hunting state. If you are in an urban area you may have better luck, though see how they feel about you using a gun.

I've read that shoot, shovel, and shut up (SSS). The Shut Up becomes a problem if someone else knows it was there, like the dog owner.

I agree, a standard way in the country to treat a dog that is actively attacking your livestock or threatening you is to shoot it. The law most places supports you in protecting you and yours. But many states and local laws protect hunting animals that are not threatening you or yours.

I've shot dogs attacking my chickens. My brother killed a dog that was attacking our cattle. I understand protecting our animals. I do not understand blatantly shooting a dog just because you can.