Update

[jenns anipals]

So I had things fixed up for a bit and lost more of my flock I feel like a failure and let down I love all my chickens so much lost a favorite hen not to long ago she suffered injuries I nursed her she fought like hell for 4 days I thought she was going to make it.she fell asleep forever. so I got better stuff it was expensive did what I could removed perch that always seemed to be target still going to get more with next checks .really wish I knew chicken wire was not worth it to begin with I would have saved waited then got flock... big learning curve... Please be kind this new start up with this new coop in New territory has been very traumatic still lots of work to do

 

[Debbie292d]

We're not Facebook here, so nobody criticizes anyone for losing chickens. It happens and it's sad, but we learn. I am very sorry though and know how hard that can be.

It appears you've gone with 1/2" hardware cloth now. I only see it on one side though.

Do you know what predator got your chickens? If you don't know, I'd look into getting a camera so you know what you're facing. If they are diggers, you'd need to bury some HWC (hardware cloth) so they can't dig underneath.

From what I can tell, it sure is a lot safer now though!

 

[Squawkers]

It looks lovely! I can tell you really care. My only suggestion is that you cover all of the chicken wire with hardware cloth, as raccoons could climb to the top part and get in that way

 

[Squawkers]

Do you know what predator got your chickens? If you don't know, I'd look into getting a camera so you know what you're facing. If they are diggers, you'd need to bury some HWC (hardware cloth) so they can't dig underneath

I might be wrong, but it appears that the whole thing is on a cement slap. Would it still need to have buried wire?

 

[Debbie292d]

I might be wrong, but it appears that the whole thing is on a cement slap. Would it still need to have buried wire?

It's not if you look close. I see a border going around the inside of it that looks like dirt to me.

 

[Callender Girl]

Losing chickens will, eventually, happen to everyone. And, every single one of us has made mistakes.

There is No Reason for anyone to be unkind to you.

I am sorry for your losses, especially of your favorite girl. And, I wish, wish, wish the sellers would stop labeling the flimsy stuff "chicken wire," because too many people believe it will protect their birds.

Hardware cloth is seriously expensive, but it is a much safer option. One of my coops is an A-frame and when we built the run for it, we echoed the A-frame shape. I couldn't afford as much hardware cloth as I needed, so half of one side of the angled run is covered in 1/2 plywood instead. It's not pretty, but it worked. As a bonus, it gives the girls protection from getting wet when it's raining and they insist on going outside.

I have covered all of my runs with HWC and made "aprons" around the run bottoms with HWC AND laid 16-inch square stepping stones and/or rows of bricks on top of the aprons. A massacre in one of the coops almost eight years ago taught me the value of fortifying my set-ups.

You clearly care about your birds and are working to make things safer for them. You are not a "failure."

 

[theoldchick]

Add some electric wire around the base to help with predators trying to dig in. I've used extra heavy duty tarps with extra grommets to add shade and wind protections. I use black zip ties to secure the tarps and it works great!

 

[jenns anipals]

We're not Facebook here, so nobody criticizes anyone for losing chickens. It happens and it's sad, but we learn. I am very sorry though and know how hard that can be.

It appears you've gone with 1/2" hardware cloth now. I only see it on one side though.

Do you know what predator got your chickens? If you don't know, I'd look into getting a camera so you know what you're facing. If they are diggers, you'd need to bury some HWC (hardware cloth) so they can't dig underneath.

From what I can tell, it sure is a lot safer now though!

So almost the whole bottom all the way around was wrapped it was 89 buck for 25 feet so I'll be finishing the rest within the next checks the bottom is all concrete so I don't think anything can get under it as far as camera I got some but they didn't work with the type of Internet I have so new ones should be here today hopefully

 

[jenns anipals]

It looks lovely! I can tell you really care. My only suggestion is that you cover all of the chicken wire with hardware cloth, as raccoons could climb to the top part and get in that way

Yes I will be doing that I could only afford to do almost all the bottom I wanted to do all it but the pockets could hang lol thank you I do really love them they are my pets

 

[jenns anipals]

Add some electric wire around the base to help with predators trying to dig in. I've used extra heavy duty tarps with extra grommets to add shade and wind protections. I use black zip ties to secure the tarps and it works great!

I don't have to worry about dig ins bottom is all concrete if you look a little closer I will be getting animal traps and a back yard cam I used and still always adding more zip ties every time I'm down there