Chickens
🚨 THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO CHECK YOUR COOP SKIRTS TODAY. 🚨
Yesterday, hungry raccoons reminded me just how clever and incredibly destructive they can be when they have babies to feed. I lost half of my beautiful Buff silkies chickens/ flock, including my two sweet buff boys. 💔
If you think your coop is 100% safe, please learn from my mistake. Here is exactly what went wrong with these older runs I built years ago
😢 Brittle Hardware Cloth Over the years, the weather and time take a toll. The old wire had become soft and brittle, making it easy for determined paws to rip right through.
😢 The Rock Myth As you can see in the photo, there was a massive rock covering this exact spot. I thought it was secure. But raccoons have hands, incredible strength, and relentless patience they moved the rock and found the weak point.
When was the last time you did a full security check on your coop? Let’s look out for each other in the comments.
Having raised chickens for several years, I can personally attest to how vulnerable coops become over time if not regularly maintained. One of my early mistakes was assuming that cage wire or hardware cloth installed years ago would last indefinitely. But weather elements like rain, sun, and temperature fluctuations degrade the metal, making it brittle and easy to tear. Raccoons are incredibly resourceful and patient animals, and they can manipulate objects with their dexterous paws to find hidden entry points. Even things like large rocks placed to secure wire can be moved or shifted, creating weak spots. My advice is to schedule frequent, thorough inspections of your coop—ideally monthly—to check for any signs of wear, rust, or damage on the wire, frames, and foundation. Upgrading to heavy-gauge galvanized hardware cloth can significantly enhance protection against these persistent predators. Also, burying wire mesh a few inches underground around your coop perimeter helps prevent raccoons from digging underneath. While finding damages or signs of tampering can be disheartening, taking action right away to reinforce these areas is critical for the safety and well-being of your flock. Don't wait until you see missing birds; proactive maintenance and security checks can save you heartache and protect your chickens from predators. Sharing experiences and tips with fellow chicken keepers in online forums can also provide valuable insights and moral support during such times.
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