A contained environment keeps your pets safe

One of the questions I get asked the most is how to protect a flock against predators. You may not think a bunch of chickens in a suburban backyard are really at risk, but unfortunately they are. Predators in some areas of the country may be more obvious, such as bear country, but most of us don't think twice about our pets being at risk in our own yards. 

In most areas of the country, such as our own Midwest region, we have a long list of secretive guests that visit our yards and neighborhoods without an invitation, often unseen and unheard- at night. In the Kansas City area we enjoy raccoons, skunks, minks and other ferret family, possums, foxes and more- all possible ground predators that would love an easy chicken dinner! Add to that owls, hawks, and snakes and you'll have a decent idea of how well you need to focus on this issue. Guess what? You also need to consider neighborhood dogs and cats, because they can also be a threat. The main predator in the city is neighboring dogs, closely seconded by raccoons.

First line of defense is your fence

Let's start with your yard. Is it fenced? Chickens will wander wherever they can, and if you have a bantam breed, they can likely fly over a pretty tall fence. You'll want to clip one wing so they don't have good control if they can top your fence, because you can't always manage what's on the other side of the fence. Likewise, even if you create a fenced run for your flock, if you haven't a fence around your yard, a stray dog can bulldoze into a run if it's not constructed to prevent this- it's great to have a double layer of protection, if possible. Chain-link is great, but a wooden privacy fence is fantastic, as the lack of visibility keeps the birds from being an attractive prey. This may be your main perimeter, if you free-range in your yard, but you may choose to augment it somehow, such as staked or buried chickenwire along the bottom. You might also be certain there are areas of cover or lots of tree coverage for overhead protection and hiding spots for hawks and the like. 

Hardware cloth is welded galvanized mesh

What about your run? If you have one, is it covered? What are you using for the fencing?

Guess what? Chicken wire is a terrible idea for chickens.

If you don't close your birds into their wooden coop at night by closing the pop door, your run should be made out of 1/2" square welded hardware cloth. This seems like overkill until you talk to an owner who lost birds to raccoon right through the chicken-wire. The problem is that chickens are practically blind in low light, much less dark, and raccoons will scare them (often in partnerships) into a corner and then pull them right through the wire...I won't clarify, because it's exactly what you think. Use 1/2" hardware cloth to start and you won't have to come back and retrofit later after suffering a heartbreaking loss.  

A coop is the best way to avoid predation; buried wire stops digging

The run should be built sturdily, and if you have potential digging predators, like foxes and Fidos, you should dig a trench and bury at least a foot of wire curved down and out so that nothing will penetrate the run underneath. Large rocks lining the bottom of the run can be a decorative way of deterring digging predators, as well. If the birds will be safely closed in a coop at night, it's less important to use the smaller mesh wire and other forms of wire can be used. The run can be as short as 36" high, and it ought to be covered to prevent aerial predation. Chickens love to perch, so you'll generally find runs 6' high, with roosts and perches for daytime use built-in. The best thing to use for a perch is a simple 2" x 4" board, about 3' off the ground, wide side up. Chickens can't grip perches like flighted birds, so they need to have a surface big enough for their giant feet, and not so high they'll land heavily when they jump down. A lower roost set in a stair-step is good, as they like a jungle-gym as well as anyone! Vining plants placed outside the run make a wonderfully aesthetic way to shade the covered run, though one must be certain to choose a plant that is non-toxic to poultry. 

Excellent ventilation is crucial with a climate with either extreme

Most owners will simply choose to have a wooden coop that's built securely against both predator and climate, and allow the run to be sturdy, but not Fort Knox. Ventilation is crucial in our climate, not just because it's hot and humid in the Summer, but also because of the bitter Winter. While keeping a coop draft-free is obviously important in the cold, proper ventilation prevents build-up of the moisture of chicken-breath, which can cause crystallization on their combs and thus frostbite. With vents that are shielded and installed at levels that are not floor-, nor roost-height, the moisture can leave and the birds' own body warmth keeps a properly-sized coop cozy enough for their comfort. All holes in the coop for windows or vents should be covered by the 1/2" hardware cloth, as well, to prevent predation. Doors should have a latch that a 5-year-old couldn't get in, because that's about the level of persistence a clever raccoon will apply. A hasp and padlock will prevent 2-legged predation, which has been known to occur due to unhappy neighbors and thieves. Many owners make a run of electricity to their coop (even just very long, heavy-duty, outdoor extension cords) to run a fan or a heater. Many also power a baby monitor, as an attack can be caught early! It may mean a pajama-clad owner running out into the night screaming like a banshee (ask my neighbors), but that warning can get your beloved friend dropped when only a bite away from beheadedness. 

When delving into owning chickens, it is important to understand that the domestic chicken has been a favorite snack for not only humans but every other omnivore out there- and that anything capable of devouring your birds will do so unless prevented from it. The commitment you make to your flock in ownership also means you are committing to protecting them from a plethora of predators. If you educate yourself this is an easy project, but if you wait to see how bad it can be, you'll find yourself sorry you let the birds down.