Would it be wise to start closing up my flock in the coop?

[PeaPod117]

Without even reading past the thread title, YES. Why risk it when you can just lock them up and sleep soundly?

I posted a pictures of the hutch if that would help btw

 

[PeaPod117]

Owning chickens and ducks and trying to keep them safe from predators can easily make you wisely paranoid. Previous posters are offering good information; you need to do everything you can to protect your birds. Mine were safe in the same coop in the same location for years -- until they weren't.

One mink slipped in through a run that easily kept them safe from big predators, like the coyotes that surround us, but I forgot to close the coop door ONE night and ended up with three of my four hens dead.

I don't know if they really work or if it just makes me feel better, but I got Nite Guard solar lights that flash at night as another deterrent. The flashing allegedly makes one predator think it's the eyes of another predator, so they leave for easier pickings. Is that true? I don't know, but it helps me sleep better to think I've done everything (which includes massive purchases of hardware cloth and additional locks and latches as well).

When I got that fancy-looking coop in my avatar, which is built like a fortress, we added hardware cloth over the windows and under the metal grates the previous owner had installed.

Keep your babies safe!

Do you think you could send a link for the lights? And I’m sorry that happened ;-; I couldn’t imagine after raising them for so long that they’re taken away

 

[PeaPod117]

I've never not locked mine up except one time when my chicken went to sleep in a spot I couldn't get her. I didn't even sleep all night thinking something would grab her. Every night around 8 all of them get shut in, the hens and the chicks.

Best predator protection we have are dogs, they have kept everything off our property. We use the neighbors free range hunting dogs as protection too. I've yet to see any creatures besides one opossum a few years ago but it was trying to come in my house door, not my coop.

I’ve heard dogs offer good protection, but my mom won’t let me get one ;-;

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Just some insight, once they get older and bigger, you're definitely going to need a larger coop and run.

 

[aart]

That coop is pretty too small for the chickens and the ducks.

All the latches there are not raccoon proof, need a hasp and loop type with carabineer or snap lock.

This would help with diggers:
Good examples of anti-dig apron installation:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[PeaPod117]

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I agree with PattyNH. Lock them up at night, every night. The only reason you don't have trouble yet is that the predators don't know the chickens are there, yet. Once the predators find them, the open coop becomes their lunchbox.

There are daytime predators like foxes and hawks, but in my experience the night time predators do the most damage, because the chickens are asleep and won't move away from them.
I use welded wire caging with 1-inch by half-inch holes on all sides, including top and bottom. It's strong enough to keep a raccoon or bobcat from getting into the cage. I also make sure that the roost sleeping area is more than a foot from the wire walls, because a motivated young raccoon can reach right through the wire.
Mice can go through 1 by half-inch wire, but most chickens will chase and kill and sometimes even eat mice.

I don’t know if you can see if from the picture (I’ll take a better one when I get home) but I can’t tell if the wire is welded or not?

 

[PeaPod117]

That coop is pretty too small for the chickens and the ducks.

All the latches there are not raccoon proof, need a hasp and loop type with carabineer or snap lock.

This would help with diggers:
Good examples of anti-dig apron installation:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

Yeah, I didn’t realize how small it was until we put them in. We’re planning on adding onto it soon, after we build the rabbit hutch, though. And thanks for the link!

 

[PeaPod117]

Just some insight, once they get older and bigger, you're definitely going to need a larger coop and run.

Yeah, we’re gonna add onto it which is another reason I wanna know more about predator proofing so we don’t do anything wrong

 

[Callender Girl]

PeaPod117 -- the lights I use, NiteGuard have a website -- niteguard.com. They are also available at Amazon, Northern Tool and some of the farm stores. The lights are about $20 each, you hang them at the height of your expected predator, and they flash from dusk to dawn. I hang one in each of the four directions.

As far as getting enough space, you'll get there. Perfect is the enemy of good; do what you are able and do the rest as soon as you can.

My spring chicks are quickly and loudly outgrowing their brooders, but the greater risk for me would be throwing them outside when the weather in the past week has fluctuated from 60 degrees to a light frost. I give them field trips (in a run) on the warm days, but being crowded at night is better than getting sick from the cold.

Good luck with your flock! Keep us posted!!

 

[PeaPod117]

PeaPod117 -- the lights I use, NiteGuard have a website -- niteguard.com. They are also available at Amazon, Northern Tool and some of the farm stores. The lights are about $20 each, you hang them at the height of your expected predator, and they flash from dusk to dawn. I hang one in each of the four directions.

As far as getting enough space, you'll get there. Perfect is the enemy of good; do what you are able and do the rest as soon as you can.

My spring chicks are quickly and loudly outgrowing their brooders, but the greater risk for me would be throwing them outside when the weather in the past week has fluctuated from 60 degrees to a light frost. I give them field trips (in a run) on the warm days, but being crowded at night is better than getting sick from the cold.

Good luck with your flock! Keep us posted!!

Thank you! I’ll be sure to buy the lights once I get more money I hope things go well with your chickens as well