Would you consider my coop 'predator safe'?

[Annie44]

I have a coop with six chickens in it. The coop is made out of wood, there is one 1" by 3/4" hole near the bottom where the door doesn't quite fit. The latch on the door in a combination lock (hahaha raccoons can't solve that, can they) and there is another combination lock on the chicken door to the run. The run itself in made of 1" chicken wire and includes a top. It doesn't have any holes in it, besides the 1" chicken wire of course. I'll be putting the chickens inside the coop when it gets dark and letting them out in the morning again.

Do you think my chicken babies are safe? I couldn't bare it if I lost one.

Thank you!

 

[Chick Charm]

Sounds like you have it buttoned up pretty good. I would suggest that the chickens roost away from the outside close to the chicken wire. Coons could possibly reach through and kill a chicken. If the coop is enclosed inside the chicken wire, it sounds like you did good. Time will tell. Not to sound snobby, but I have never built a chicken coop or run with chicken wire. I always use 1/2'' hardware cloth. I did on two occasions use chain link for a run though. It worked out well so I believe you'll be alright. Check it regularly.

Wish you the best.

 

[Clackclack]

First off, 1' chicken wire racoons can worry till it breaks, 1/2" galvanised hardware cloth is safe. There is also the issue of digging in from under the perimeter, but your chickens should be in the coop at night, anyways. How thick is the plywood for the coop? If there is a good size hole, I would try to tighten things up. It all depends on how hungry and motivated the racoons (rats, snakes...) are...

 

[Chick Charm]

 

[donrae]

Chicken wire is pretty much only good for keeping chickens in. It won't keep many predators out. My German Shepherd once persistently used her nose to push a hole through the chicken wire, not to get the birds, but to get the leftover hamburger we'd put out for the chickens!

 

[Clackclack]

Judging from your picture, the structure sits on a hard surface of sorts, so digging in seems difficult. How are the windows secured? A really motivated racoon could try to gain access from the roof trying to get into the windows...

 

[Clackclack]

Oops, non sequitur... the picture is not the coop in question... sorry forget previous post!