Aug 14, 2025
Goat and sheep shelters
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Goat and sheep shelters
You own chickens right? Please for the love of god help me. I live in the middle of the woods and the Raccoons and Possums have started working together. We have one chicken left and she is in our backyard and stays inside at night but this cant go on forever what can I do please help?
Its very important to predator proof your coop and run. When predators attack its a good idea to stop free ranging for a few weeks so they dont come back, because after a successful kill they always come back.
Prefabricated coops you can buy online are very rarely predator proof as raccoons are extremely intelligent and can learn to unlatch and open flimsy doors.
A good coop and run needs a sturdy solid roof (you shouldnt be able to lift the roof) and is solid on all sides including the bottom. Its better to have a coop elevated off the ground to prevent burrowing animals and pests from getting in. Ventilation and windows in the coop need to be covered in 1/4 hardware cloth.
Got any chicken wire anywhere on your property? Or use it in your run? Trash it. Any animal can destroy or bend chicken wire and get in Replace all chicken wire with hardware cloth. Apply hardware cloth to every side of your run.
Make a trench around your coop and run and bury more hardware cloth so your run and coop has an apron underground to prevent raccoons from digging in to your coop.
Remember that your run needs a roof to. You can use hardware cloth for it. You can bury hardward cloth in the run to then cover it with lots of mulch then bedding as well.
Your run and coop should have latches that are secure metal and at a good height. Two can be better then one because raccoons can open some latches.
Never let your chickens roost outside and get them to bed before the sun starts to go down.
If you feel like you still need extra security motion activated lights and electric bird netting thrown over or around your run can also deter predators (and people) from even touching your newly made fortress.
Avoid leaving feed and food scraps out where it may attract unwanted animals as well.
Building a bear proof coop
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