How to Predator Proof a Chicken Coop: Six Layers That Work
How to predator proof a chicken coop is a stacking job: hardware cloth on every opening, a dig barrier at the base, a roof on the run, two-step latches, a door that shuts at dusk and a headcount every evening. Read the full predator-proofing plan Skip one layer and the next predator finds it. Predation is the most common cause of death in small flocks, so this is the work that pays back first. Kyle's predator-proofing guide on Raising Chickens covers the plan in the order he would do it, and every spec comes from an extension service. Which predator is it? Name the visitor first, because each predator beats a different layer. Predator How it gets in Layer that stops it Raccoon Grabs birds through fence holes and works doors and latches Small mesh, two-step latches, secured doors Fox and coyote Raid near dawn and dusk; coyotes dig under surface fencing Buried wire or an apron; fencing over 4 feet or a cover net Hawk and owl Strike from above; owls may hit just before dark A...