Ways to Protect Coop and Run Against Predators?

[ScottandSam]

If you have the area and predators like we do. We have had better luck with adding two LGD dogs out there to guard and updating our ar-15 for range and a nv scope.

Scott

 

[angie_02]

If you have the area and predators like we do. We have had better luck with adding two LGD dogs out there to guard and updating our ar-15 for range and a nv scope.

Scott

We are considering a guard dog lol thanks Scott

 

[barred2rock]

I would've thought foxes would've been the bigger threat! Thanks for sharing I had no idea they could do that! Would they do this anytime of day or only at night? I mostly hear them at night.

They're nocturnal, thus most likely at night, although rabid raccoons have been known to roam during the day.

 

[angie_02]

Thanks everyone for your advice! If anyone had any pictures of their own coops, please share. I'm also curious about any runs made with the hardware cloth and how you make gates with it. We need a gate to go in and out to reach the coop and it's doors.

 

[jjchickmom]

I agree with what the others have said. One security feature we added to our run (beefed up 10x10 kennel with coop inside) is solar motion detector lights. We secured them with zip ties on each of outer sides of the run. Whenever a possum or raccoon approaches after dark they light up and they often go away. The raccoons have realized each side has lights now so they don't even come around.

 

[angie_02]

I agree with what the others have said. One security feature we added to our run (beefed up 10x10 kennel with coop inside) is solar motion detector lights. We secured them with zip ties on each of outer sides of the run. Whenever a possum or raccoon approaches after dark they light up and they often go away. The raccoons have realized each side has lights now so they don't even come around.

That's a great idea, didn't even think of that! Thanks!

 

[PennyM]

Angie_02, this is a photo of my sister's and my coop and run right after my husband and I finished it. The run is what used to be our fenced-in garden so he added more posts and we changed out the fence material to hardware cloth. My husband and I dug trenches down 1-1/2 feet and buried the hardware cloth and since the cloth was only 4 feet high, my sister and I "sewed" the two panels together by weaving it together with stainless steel wire. Hubby made the door which looks like your basic wooden screen door. All spaces are covered with hardware cloth. We had a small tarp over part of the top but after a rainy spell, decided to tarp the whole top. We will eventually run electricity and water to the run.

I forgot to mention that we have a hook that latches onto the door with a thumb thingie (don't know what else to call it, lol).

 

[angie_02]

View attachment 1029701 Angie_02, this is a photo of my sister's and my coop and run right after my husband and I finished it. The run is what used to be our fenced-in garden so he added more posts and we changed out the fence material to hardware cloth. My husband and I dug trenches down 1-1/2 feet and buried the hardware cloth and since the cloth was only 4 feet high, my sister and I "sewed" the two panels together by weaving it together with stainless steel wire. Hubby made the door which looks like your basic wooden screen door. All spaces are covered with hardware cloth. We had a small tarp over part of the top but after a rainy spell, decided to tarp the whole top. We will eventually run electricity and water to the run.

I forgot to mention that we have a hook that latches onto the door with a thumb thingie (don't know what else to call it, lol).

Thanks for sharing, your chickens seem to have a very nice home there! Looks great and gave me some good ideas for my own

 

[malmohuset]

Hi There -
We live with Coyote, Raccoon, Mink, Rats, Hawk and Eagles...
I added a couple of pictures of our run - Each fence panel is made from 3 2x4's and then a series of 5/8"x3.5" cedar fence boards and then covered with 1/2" hardware cloth. Each fence panel is then connected to a 4x4 to hold it all together. I have chicken wire on top right now to keep raptors out - I will eventually build a more sufficient roof (with hardware cloth and also a covered section) when I can afford the time and money

I didn't dig down the wire on the outside because the ground is just horrible and full of rocks - instead I went out 2 feet with hardware cloth all around and then covered the cloth with dirt and planted grass seed.

I've show a picture of the gate too. Basically just a modified fence panel as described above. We have two little kids so I used those hinges that close themselves so that the door swings shut.

The coop door is automatic, set to open at 7AM and close at 9PM - you can see in the bottom picture. There are two doors on the front of the coop. The top door houses the automatic door opener. The bottom door would close up completely if I needed it to.

Still new to this... the whole thing was built in a bit of a hurry. As soon as these girls are big enough to deal with our cats, they'll hopefully have free range of the place.

We also have a wonderful (although just a pup) Smooth Collie that barks at anything and everything - pretty sure he keeps most predators away. He's in the yard all day until the chicks are tucked up inside.

 

[PennyM]

I love your run with the built in window boxes! I really like your coop too, was it a kit or did you build it yourself? Mine was a kit and I'm not enamored with it. We will build our own once that one starts to fall apart. What kind of chickens are the black and grayish ones and the black and white one? They're pretty!