Predator-Proof Chicken Coop Plans
Chicken keeping has one rule: everything wants to eat your hens. A truly predator-proof coop costs maybe 15% more in materials and saves you the heartbreak of a 4 AM massacre.
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Any size
Run
Any size
Materials
+15-25% vs basic build
Build time
Adds 1 weekend for apron and locks
Best for
- Rural properties
- Anywhere with raccoons, foxes, coyotes, or weasels
- Free-range flocks that lock up at night
What's included
- 1/2" hardware cloth on EVERY opening (chicken wire is for keeping chickens IN, not predators OUT)
- 12" wide buried or laid predator apron
- Raccoon-proof latches (require two motions, slide and turn)
- Solid floor or buried wire mesh under run
- Covered run top (hardware cloth or solid roof)
- Automatic coop door with secure latch
- Hardware cloth wrapped at corners with no gaps over 1/2"
Build steps
- Predator-specific threat assessment by region
- Hardware cloth specification (gauge, mesh size, attachment)
- Predator apron installation (lay-flat vs buried)
- Lock and latch hardware list
- Pop door and automatic door options
- Run top and wall covering
- Coop seal-up checklist
Frequently asked questions
What kills chickens at night?
Raccoons (top suspect, they reach through wire), opossums, weasels, mink, owls, and rats. Daytime: hawks, dogs, foxes, coyotes.
Is chicken wire predator-proof?
No, raccoons rip through chicken wire easily. Always use 1/2" hardware cloth (welded steel mesh) on every opening.
How deep should a predator apron be?
12" wide is enough. Lay it flat against the ground or bury 4-6" deep. Diggers (foxes, dogs) hit the wire and stop trying.
