Would this help to keep the predators out?

[Luinhir]

I'm building a chicken pen in the near future because I'm getting chickens in a couple of months and it will be completely surrounded by wire and the top is covered also. Would putting my chickens in the coop at night and shutting the door keep them safe, or will the raccoons still get them, is the pen cate and coop door are locked?

 

[PDJTP2006]

Well when your making your coop you want to have the bottom have chicken wire as well because the raccons or dogs or anythig that wants your chickens could get in just by digging under. And yea put your chickens away and close the door usually chickens will go back to the coop as long as they know its home.

 

[bigzio]

Luinhir, Closing the pop door keeps predators out at night and also prevents cold drafts when the birds are roosting. My coop has room for feed and water also. It's impotant they are left out in the morning to eat and drink if they are locked up without it.

bigzio

 

[SandraChick]

First I'll start with saying thank you for thinking ahead!

- wire: chicken wire keeps chickens in, but does NOT keep predators out- use welded wire- also, if possible, either bury the wire 1-2', or bend 1' OUTward so that predators can't dig under.

-coop doors: coons learn to use latches...If you have the option, make your people door the same as a house door with a door knob that's lockable. One way to keep coons from learning to open the pop hole (hen door) is to latch it from the inside! Otherwise, you can always lock that one too.

- if you have the funds...I recommend an electric fence around your run/coop

-Many folks extend the wire over the run...to keep climbers out (like coons)

good luck
Sandra

 

[prariechiken]

It is better to "overbuild" your chicken pens than under estimate how much damage a varmint can cause. I bet I lost 30 birds battling a "pack" of coons one fall. They were tearing through chicken wire, digging under walls, chewing through plywood....stopped by conibear trap...

 

[YARDBIRD]

I have also read that you can get a male meat-eater, (dog,) to mark its territory around the yard and that it helps with some predators such as foxes....

 

[Luinhir]

I'm going to bury part of the fence, so they can't dig under and I'm not using chicken wire, I'm not sure what it's called but the holes are smaller so nothing can reach in and try to yank them out. Would having a light shine on the pen keep them away or make them alittle bit nervous, or just bring more attention to it and if I place my rabbits dirty bedding into bags and place them outside would it draw their attention elsewhere or make them hungier when they notice its not the rabbit, just a bag that smells like one?

 

[Doc7]

My run and coop are completely enclosed in hardware cloth, so no I do not think it is necessary to close the coop door at night. The coop is no less or more secure than the run is, so it would be redundant.