Nowadays, chicken keeping is like a hobby which can be rewarding, but the most challenging part of chicken keeping is how to predator proof a chicken coop? or how to keep predators out of chicken coop? So that no land predators like racoons, foxes, coyotes, weasels and dog or any sky predators like eagles, hawks and owls can hunt them. Only one voracious predator is enough to wipe out your entire flock. So, it becomes extremely important to make your chicken coop predator-proof rather than losing any of your feathered friends. Given below are some of the tips and strategies using which you can keep predators out of your chicken coop and protect your flock.
Chicken coop should be off-ground
Elevating your chicken coop off the ground is the best way to protect your chickens from land predators like raccoons, coyotes, foxes, weasels, etc. as well as from burrowing animals like moles, rats and skunks. Raising your chicken coop have many other benefits also such as preventing the coop wood from rotting by moisture buildup which can distort the overall structure of the coop.
The ideal gap between the ground and the coop should be at least 12 inches. But make sure to have a solid floor in your coop as any hungry predators can easily break into the coop from underneath. So, if your area have more or frequent number of land predators then, you can also elevate your coop more than 12 inches to protect your flock. And, don’t worry about how will chickens enter the coop, you just need a ramp outside your chicken coop door to let them in and out of the coop.
Secure the Run by Covering it from top to bottom
To protect the chicken run from flying predators as well as land-predators, it becomes essential to cover the run using 1/4 inch hardware cloth as covering the run significantly reduces the risk from these predators. But keep in mind, to cover your run with hardware cloth only and not with some string net. Only use hardware cloth as any climbing predator can easily chew or tear the net posing a threat to the chickens.
Don’t have a very tight budget while making your chicken coop predator proof as the safety of flock is paramount. So, covering the roof of chicken run with a hardware cloth will deter any flying or climbing predators like hawks, eagles, falcons and owls.
If your place has higher level of predator threats or your region has higher number of land or flying predators than usual then, it becomes necessary to increase security measures. Like if you have small to medium chicken run then, you can also cover your coop run floor also with hardware cloth which surely increase your budget but it will increase the protection of your coop run by completely deterring any land predator.
On the other hand, if your have a larger run then, a budget-friendly method could be to just cover the initial few feet around the perimeter from inside of the chicken run. This will provide a considerable amount of protection without being prohibitively expensive. And, covering the run floor completely with hardware cloth should be done only if it is really necessary depending on your region. By covering the top and bottom of the full chicken run, we are trying to minimize the threat or risk from all the predators. And, provide our feathered friends a safe heaven to roost.
Installing Predator Apron for Chicken Coop
The solid concrete floor of chicken coop can easily deter any predator from digging into the coop. But many sly predators like racoons, foxes and bobcats can start digging from outside the chicken run to enter the run, making the flock in danger as chickens spend most of their day in the run. So, to deter these digging predators from digging into the run, installing predator apron for chicken coop and run could be the best approach.
Steps to install predator apron around the perimeter of the chicken coop and run:
- Firstly, just dig a trench of about 12 inch deep all around the coop and run.
- Get a PVC coated hardware cloth of 2 x 3 inch.
- Then, bury the hardware cloth in that trench.
Now, if any predator tries to get into the chicken run by digging will encounter this barrier of hardware cloth and will not be able to enter either inside the coop or the run, making the chickens totally safe.
Clean any kind of feed on or near your Chicken Run
Many predators get attracted to the chicken feed or un-eaten food lying on your chicken run floor. So, keep your chicken coop and run feed free and also don’t keep your chickens feed outside or anywhere near the chicken coop or run.
Yes, it is true that if the chicken coop and run is properly secured then, no predator can enter the run. But along with securing the coop, it is also necessary to not do anything which can attract predators which can then, prey on your chickens and their eggs.
So, make sure to feed your chickens only as much as they can eat and then, also clean any uneaten food left on the run floor by chickens. This will keep your chicken run clean thus, discouraging any predator from entering the coop or run.
Use hardware cloth to cover every opening
Many chicken keepers end up using “chicken wire” instead of “hardware cloth” while covering their run or coop. Here don’t go by the name chicken wire that it is made for securing chicken coop and run but it is the opposite as chicken wire has wide and large holes so it becomes easy for any predator like hawks or racoons to tear it up and break into the coop run.
So, use hardware cloth of 1/4 inch to secure the coop and run or to cover any opening in the coop. All the windows of the chicken coop should be covered with 1/4 inch hardware cloth only to deter any predator or reptile entering through it.
TIP – Please use screws and washers to install hardware cloth and don’t use staples to fix them as any predator can easily dislodge it just by pulling.
Put any Guardian Animal outside the run
Many animals like llamas, guineas, geese, donkeys and some dog breeds such as Great Pyrenees, Akbash, Shepherds and Maremmas are great flock guardians. You can put any of these guardian animals outside the chicken run for the protection of your flock. Like if you adopt any of the guardian dog, then it will naturally start barking if it sees any predators coming near the run or coop to scare it and at the same time alerts you. But be cautious to adopt a dog that protects your chickens instead of preying on them. Roosters are another great flock guardians that can sacrifice their own life battling a predator to protect the flock.
Close coop and run doors at sunset
Nocturnal predators start hunting for food as soon as sunsets or might also start hunting prematurely. So, to protect your feathered friends from these predators, you should always keep your chicken coop and run doors closed at night as soon as all your chickens have entered the coop and never leave your chicken coop door open overnight.
You can also take advantage of an automatic chicken coop doors which gets closed automatically at sunset and opens at sunrise everyday. Or you can also set a timer at which it should get opened or closed. But if you can close the coop and run doors manually then, nothing like it because then you can also check that all the chickens got inside the coop and no predator is hiding inside the run waiting to treat itself in the morning.
This should be practiced even if you have an automatic chicken coop door as predators like opossum can deliberately hide in the run waiting to treat itself in the morning when the flock comes out of the coop.
Train your flock to get inside the coop at sunset
Train your chickens to get inside their coop at dusk as nocturnal predators usually become active at this time. One of the best method to train your chickens is by rewarding them as chickens are love getting treats and snacks. Don’t reward them from regular feed which they consume mostly everyday, reward them with some snacks which feels like they are getting rewarded. So, you can train your chickens to return to their coop before sunset by rewarding them with treats and snacks.
And they won’t take any longer than three to four days to learn that if they’ll return to their coop before dusk then, they’ll get rewarded as they really love snacks and treats.
Have Indoor Roosts for your flock
Make sure to only train your chickens to return to their coops before the night-time if you have enough roosting bars inside the chicken coop. Chickens naturally sleep off the ground and that’s why they’ll feel uncomfortable inside the coop if it doesn’t have any roosting bars. Then, they they’ll get tempted to roost outside the coop which can be really unsafe as they can be easy prey for predators. So, ensure that your chicken coop must have enough roosting bars for your feathered friends, making them comfortable and relaxed inside the coop while roosting at night.
Use two step locks and secure door latches
Don’t use any of the simple locks like hook and chain locks which can be easily unhinged and unlocked by some predators like raccoons. Use tamper-resistant locks like spring locks and barrels locks that requires multiple steps to get unlocked making it difficult for the predator. Padlock-style with carabiner latch is the most recommended latch to use on your coop as I’m using this latch since a decade and it is the safest latch to be use on the coop door.
Use Night-Vision Camera
You should also use a night vision trail camera to keep track of the predators in your area at night time. This will help you get prepared or at least know the predators which can be unsafe and dangerous for your flock.
Conclusion
Fortunately, I haven’t lost any of my chickens to predators in my decade long journey of raising chickens. All of that credit I would give to my predator-proofing strategies. If you are struggling on how to predator proof a chicken coop then, consider all the strategies, tips and methods shared above in this article to provide your flock a safe heaven. But always remember to keep on inspecting your chicken coop and run periodically to ensure that your feathered friends are safe from any kind of threat.