What pine shavings to buy and is this lock Predator proof enough?

[Emily_loveschickens]

Hi everyone
i was just wondering if i pine shavings are good or bad because i have heard mixed reviews on them? I was also wondering is you can just buy any pine shavings or if if there is a specific one to buy? Also does thins lock look predator proof enough?

 

[DobieLover]

Hi everyone
i was just wondering if i pine shavings are good or bad because i have heard mixed reviews on them? I was also wondering is you can just buy any pine shavings or if if there is a specific one to buy? Also does thins lock look predator proof enough?View attachment 2714154

The lock is not predator proof but the coop doesn't look like it is either. How many birds are you planning to try to house in it and what are the interior dimensions in ft x ft?
Large flake pine shavings are fine.

 

[Emily_loveschickens]

The lock is not predator proof but the coop doesn't look like it is either. How many birds are you planning to try to house in it and what are the interior dimensions in ft x ft?
Large flake pine shavings are fine.

We are making the coop and run much bigger and we are planning on putting 4 chickens in it

 

[3KillerBs]

I like large flake pine shavings better because they fluff up more, making it easier to prevent packing and matting. But I've used fine flake when that was what was available. We humans care more about the bedding than the chickens do.

My Little Monitor Coop meets all the minimums for a flock of 4 standard-sized chickens. It might not be the right coop plan for you, but you can use it to see what 4 square feet per bird, etc. look like. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-little-monitor-coop.76275/

Raccoons are very much capable of opening sliding bolt latches. Most people use some kind of latch that can take a carabiner. Here are the latches on my brooder:

I used 2 latches because the door doesn't hang quite straight and I wanted to make sure that nothing could get a paw into the gap and pry it loose.

 

[blackdog043]

Your latch is not predator proof! You need one that you can put a clip, carabiner or something through it, that a 2 year old can't open. I like the white bags of pine shavings at TSC, they are larger shavings and don't have as much dust, as the yellow bags they carry.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Raccoon can definitely open that. Like others said something that an carabiner or even an actual lock can go through.