kurby22
Crossing the Road
Hi there -
We are still developing our plans for the chicken coop to ensure it is as close to 100% predator proof as possible, it is my biggest concern for the chickens. I bought a coop with run that is 3.5 ft x 7 ft. and has an open bottom and uses the 1/4" mesh hardware cloth, so I feel good about all but the bottom. What is the best approach to ensure that rats cannot dig under the coop and get in? I know the chickens would love to have access to the dirt, but we live very near a large river and stream corridors and that means large, very crafty rats, mice, raptors, opossums, skunks, raccoons, and coyotes mainly. We have battled the rats already as our neighbor used to have chickens, so I know they are our biggest issue and I am trying to plan accordingly.
My current thinking is to set the coop on 12 in x 12 in pavers to keep the wood off the soil, so there will be an apron of concrete pavers all the way around that will likely have about 4 in inside the coop all around and about 6.5-7 inches outside the coop. I have 3 ft x 10 ft 1/4 in hardware cloth that I was planning to use as well. What is the best way to use this hardware cloth to protect from the digging/tunneling? I am also considering a daytime run extension that will have a roof, so they will always be protected when they are out and about, so that will also need similar rat proofing--it will be another 3.5 ft x 7 ft. Any ideas with pictures would be extremely helpful! I am more of a visual person.
TIA.
We are still developing our plans for the chicken coop to ensure it is as close to 100% predator proof as possible, it is my biggest concern for the chickens. I bought a coop with run that is 3.5 ft x 7 ft. and has an open bottom and uses the 1/4" mesh hardware cloth, so I feel good about all but the bottom. What is the best approach to ensure that rats cannot dig under the coop and get in? I know the chickens would love to have access to the dirt, but we live very near a large river and stream corridors and that means large, very crafty rats, mice, raptors, opossums, skunks, raccoons, and coyotes mainly. We have battled the rats already as our neighbor used to have chickens, so I know they are our biggest issue and I am trying to plan accordingly.
My current thinking is to set the coop on 12 in x 12 in pavers to keep the wood off the soil, so there will be an apron of concrete pavers all the way around that will likely have about 4 in inside the coop all around and about 6.5-7 inches outside the coop. I have 3 ft x 10 ft 1/4 in hardware cloth that I was planning to use as well. What is the best way to use this hardware cloth to protect from the digging/tunneling? I am also considering a daytime run extension that will have a roof, so they will always be protected when they are out and about, so that will also need similar rat proofing--it will be another 3.5 ft x 7 ft. Any ideas with pictures would be extremely helpful! I am more of a visual person.
TIA.