Where feeder should be - pros and cons

[Devorah]

That's one option that people actually do use.

My solution is the hasps with carabiners but not just one -- 2 separate latched top and bottom of each door. That not only makes it harder for the coons to figure it out, but holds even a warped door securely against the stops.

Thanks. Do I get this right: you have two locks that are shut with carabiners?

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks. Do I get this right: you have two locks that are shut with carabiners?

Yes.

Let me see if I have a photo with the carabiners in place.

No, apparently I never take photos with the doors closed and secured except when building them when I don't have the carabiners in place yet.

 

[Devorah]

Yes.

Let me see if I have a photo with the carabiners in place.

No, apparently I never take photos with the doors closed and secured except when building them when I don't have the carabiners in place yet.

No worries! I see my choices as follows:

• Run door secured by two or three
  • hasp latches (either with carabiners or locks)
  • Spring locks
  • Barrel locks

 

[RojoMarz]

We have food and water in the run. It only gets put into the coop during extreme weather.

We had one of the bucket feeders, with the pvc elbows...yes, rodents can and did get into it. I stopped using it when I discovered chipmunks in it, during the day. We switched to a Ratproof Feeder, now the rodents can't get in.

I do remove food at night. Our predators are bear, and I do not want to have things out at night, that attract bears, more than the chickens already do. I usually put the feed back out around 7 am. The auto door has already opened by then, but the chickens are just fine without food, until I get it there. Also, during the fall/winter, I remove water at night, as it will be frozen the next morning, if I don't.

 

[3KillerBs]

No worries! I see my choices as follows:

• Run door secured by two or three
  • hasp latches (either with carabiners or locks)
  • Spring locks
  • Barrel locks

Raccoons can operate ordinary barrel bolts.

 

[Devorah]

Raccoons can operate ordinary barrel bolts.

Can they operate hasp latches with locks?!

 

[3KillerBs]

Can they operate hasp latches with locks?!

As far as I know, raccoons can't handle keys.

 

[Devorah]

We have food and water in the run. It only gets put into the coop during extreme weather.

We had one of the bucket feeders, with the pvc elbows...yes, rodents can and did get into it. I stopped using it when I discovered chipmunks in it, during the day. We switched to a Ratproof Feeder, now the rodents can't get in.

I do remove food at night. Our predators are bear, and I do not want to have things out at night, that attract bears, more than the chickens already do. I usually put the feed back out around 7 am. The auto door has already opened by then, but the chickens are just fine without food, until I get it there. Also, during the fall/winter, I remove water at night, as it will be frozen the next morning, if I don't.

So even with a secure run you had chipmunks and rats?

 

[Devorah]

As far as I know, raccoons can't handle keys.

Going for the lock and key approach!

 

[RubelliteRose]

That's what we use. My neighbor has lost many chickens to raccoons, so we weren't taking any chances with the doors