What makes a coop "Fort Knox" predator proof?

[cavemanrich]

It is the raccoons that would be the most likely to chew thru chicken wire. Opossums, and skunks would be held back. If you have coyotes or fox, they are also potentially able to get thru. Fox would usually dig under. Coyotes would have to be desperately hungry to try and eat thru chicken wire.
Check and see how things work for you. If you do see predator attempts, you may consider a HOT WIRE. It is fantastic in teaching predators to stay away. Raccoons do learn very well. Likely to stay away after a taste of Jules. Many peeps bait their hotwire, for best results.

 

[SnowKnitty]

... I had already covered the entire area with 4inch(2X2) mesh nylon fishing net during the spring of year 2. My gate was pretty much solid iron(part of a grate from a rock screener) with 10X4" hinges(the kind found on them big old barns) welded on and quite literally bolted to 8ftX6" treated posts driven 2 ft into the ground.
An eagle was wounded on the ariel defence mechanism(net) and a few owls were injured and/or killed as were a few Hawks some of those being on the protected and or endangered list.

Nylon fish net is not readily visible to aerial predators. You may be able to reduce or eliminate the loss of aerial predators, and the associated damage to your net, by using netting material that is visible and reflective. We have a large number and variety of hawks and have had great results using a product called Hawk Netting. We use it over free range areas in "patches". The hawks could easily slip under and past the netting but they won't risk the injury and stay AWAY! Perhaps you could weave some more visible strands of material into your existing netting.

 

[lnsoaps]

Hi everyone!

Reading here, I see we all have predator issues, which vary greatly depending on where we live. I'm in Southeast MI(60 miles N of Detroit) in a rural area. Our main predators are fox, coyote, hawks, owls, opossum, and skunks, and the ever popular raccoon. Snakes are generally not an issue, although we do have garter snakes(those are the only ones I've ever seen.)

This is my first year having chickens and I have built my coop as close to predator proof as I believe it can be, and was wondering what everyone else considers to be "Fort Knox" safe.

I covered the eaves with 1/4" hardware cloth attached with screws and fender washers.
The windows and one pop door(that isn't used) are also covered on the inside in the same manner.
The coop is 4x8, 2 1/2' off the ground, so it would be hard for anything to get in from underneath the coop.
The run surrounds 3 sides of the coop, total dimensions are 16'x16' with 4' of one end comprised of the coop itself. This is completely covered in 1/2" hardware cloth again attached with screws and fender washers.
The top of the run is 2x4's attached to the coop and top edge of the run walls with joist hangers screwed in, and completely covered in 1/2" hardware cloth as well.
There are no openings in the hardware cloth larger than 1/2" anywhere.
Not done yet , but to be finished before the weather gets cold is a 2' skirt of 1/2" hardware cloth attached along the bottom 2x4 of the run walls again with screws and fender washers to prevent diggers from getting in.
So far, so good.

My weak points, that I can see are the window sash locks on the back doors. IF anything got in they could easily undo them. My plan to remedy this is to attach something to the door handles that will prevent them from opening even if the sash locks are undone. Like a chain through them with a lock or something
There is space around the gate to the run, that the hardware cloth extends over an opening greater than 1/2" to allow the door to swing in all weather. This is mainly along the latch side. My plan to counter this is to screw a 3-4" strip of plywood the length of the sash side, on the outside that will act as a "stop" and also cover the gap. Sorry I don't have a picture of the gate.

Here are a few pics to illustrate.

Now, please share what you have done to build "Fort Knox" and also suggest what you would do differently if you were me( or other posters as the case may be.) Maybe we can all get some tips and tricks that will help us keep our cheeps safe.

I really like how you fenced in your run. I was looking for ideas and this popped up. Thank you for the pictures

 

[Ashley Frey]

Thank you. We do have the occasional weasel/mink here. Neighbor across the road lost some cheeps last winter when one got in her coop. I do lock mine up at night, but leave the covered/unused pop door, and the windows open all night during summer. What can be done to keep weasels out?



I built it from a plan I bought online. It's called The Daisy Coop. So far I like it, but there are a couple things I would already change if I could. Lol I did not insulate the coop. Everything I've read says they don't need it. Just keep them dry and draft free. That said,I do plan to put up Styrofoam insulation under the floor of the coop and the nest box and cover it with plywood just to give some added protection to the floor. We have occasional days below zero but usually not for more than 24 hours. High teens to low 30's normally.

Yeah, I would say you're tempting fate with just chicken wire,that's one thing I learned from reading here on BYC when I was still in the planning stage,but it's expensive. I have more $ into hardware cloth than a lot of people have in their entire coop! But if you can afford it, definitely replace with hardware cloth. Even if it's just a roll at a time.



Thank you! I have 8 pullets and a cockerel. They haven't totally reduced the run to mud yet, but is is starting to smell when it rains. We have 5 old maple trees in our front yard that shed tons of leaves in the fall,as well as several pine trees. I was thinking that instead of running over them with the lawn mower mulcher and scattering them, I would start putting them in the run. I hadn't yet worked out how to keep them in there! I like the idea of boards around the bottom. That's probably what I'll do.

use lime to keep smell to a minimum.

 

[Ann Barnhardt]

Hi everyone!

Reading here, I see we all have predator issues, which vary greatly depending on where we live. I'm in Southeast MI(60 miles N of Detroit) in a rural area. Our main predators are fox, coyote, hawks, owls, opossum, and skunks, and the ever popular raccoon. Snakes are generally not an issue, although we do have garter snakes(those are the only ones I've ever seen.)

This is my first year having chickens and I have built my coop as close to predator proof as I believe it can be, and was wondering what everyone else considers to be "Fort Knox" safe.

I covered the eaves with 1/4" hardware cloth attached with screws and fender washers.
The windows and one pop door(that isn't used) are also covered on the inside in the same manner.
The coop is 4x8, 2 1/2' off the ground, so it would be hard for anything to get in from underneath the coop.
The run surrounds 3 sides of the coop, total dimensions are 16'x16' with 4' of one end comprised of the coop itself. This is completely covered in 1/2" hardware cloth again attached with screws and fender washers.
The top of the run is 2x4's attached to the coop and top edge of the run walls with joist hangers screwed in, and completely covered in 1/2" hardware cloth as well.
There are no openings in the hardware cloth larger than 1/2" anywhere.
Not done yet , but to be finished before the weather gets cold is a 2' skirt of 1/2" hardware cloth attached along the bottom 2x4 of the run walls again with screws and fender washers to prevent diggers from getting in.
So far, so good.

My weak points, that I can see are the window sash locks on the back doors. IF anything got in they could easily undo them. My plan to remedy this is to attach something to the door handles that will prevent them from opening even if the sash locks are undone. Like a chain through them with a lock or something
There is space around the gate to the run, that the hardware cloth extends over an opening greater than 1/2" to allow the door to swing in all weather. This is mainly along the latch side. My plan to counter this is to screw a 3-4" strip of plywood the length of the sash side, on the outside that will act as a "stop" and also cover the gap. Sorry I don't have a picture of the gate.

Here are a few pics to illustrate.

Now, please share what you have done to build "Fort Knox" and also suggest what you would do differently if you were me( or other posters as the case may be.) Maybe we can all get some tips and tricks that will help us keep our cheeps safe.

It looks great! Did you have a patter or did you just wing it? LOL
I am looking for a pattern and this might work well for us.

 

[Krugerrand]

It looks great! Did you have a patter or did you just wing it? LOL
I am looking for a pattern and this might work well for us.

It looks great! Did you have a patter or did you just wing it? LOL
I am looking for a pattern and this might work well for us.

zndzant hasn't been around for 6 years ... you may not get responses.

 

[Madsalter]

Nice job! I used the hardware cloth as well. My first flock were victims of the bears thinking it was a KFC drive thru. Now I have an outer perimeter and an inner. Topped it off with a driveway alarm. Slows them down enough for me to become the predator!

 

[Krugerrand]

Nice job! I used the hardware cloth as well. My first flock were victims of the bears thinking it was a KFC drive thru. Now I have an outer perimeter and an inner. Topped it off with a driveway alarm. Slows them down enough for me to become the predator!

Also, ! We're up to 6 1/2 years without zndzant. You may not get a response.

 

[PatienceT]

I love your set up. It is something to aspire to.

 

[yugogypsy1963]

Hi everyone!

Reading here, I see we all have predator issues, which vary greatly depending on where we live. I'm in Southeast MI(60 miles N of Detroit) in a rural area. Our main predators are fox, coyote, hawks, owls, opossum, and skunks, and the ever popular raccoon. Snakes are generally not an issue, although we do have garter snakes(those are the only ones I've ever seen.)

This is my first year having chickens and I have built my coop as close to predator proof as I believe it can be, and was wondering what everyone else considers to be "Fort Knox" safe.

I covered the eaves with 1/4" hardware cloth attached with screws and fender washers.
The windows and one pop door(that isn't used) are also covered on the inside in the same manner.
The coop is 4x8, 2 1/2' off the ground, so it would be hard for anything to get in from underneath the coop.
The run surrounds 3 sides of the coop, total dimensions are 16'x16' with 4' of one end comprised of the coop itself. This is completely covered in 1/2" hardware cloth again attached with screws and fender washers.
The top of the run is 2x4's attached to the coop and top edge of the run walls with joist hangers screwed in, and completely covered in 1/2" hardware cloth as well.
There are no openings in the hardware cloth larger than 1/2" anywhere.
Not done yet , but to be finished before the weather gets cold is a 2' skirt of 1/2" hardware cloth attached along the bottom 2x4 of the run walls again with screws and fender washers to prevent diggers from getting in.
So far, so good.

My weak points, that I can see are the window sash locks on the back doors. IF anything got in they could easily undo them. My plan to remedy this is to attach something to the door handles that will prevent them from opening even if the sash locks are undone. Like a chain through them with a lock or something
There is space around the gate to the run, that the hardware cloth extends over an opening greater than 1/2" to allow the door to swing in all weather. This is mainly along the latch side. My plan to counter this is to screw a 3-4" strip of plywood the length of the sash side, on the outside that will act as a "stop" and also cover the gap. Sorry I don't have a picture of the gate.

Here are a few pics to illustrate.

Now, please share what you have done to build "Fort Knox" and also suggest what you would do differently if you were me( or other posters as the case may be.) Maybe we can all get some tips and tricks that will help us keep our cheeps safe.

I did much the same with heavy chicken wire, including burying the sides 4 inches. I never had a problem except for rats