dog proofing

Kassy · **Joined:** Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:14 pm **Posts:** 2

Hello I need so advice on dog proofing my chicken coop to try and stop the neighbor’s dogs from killing my chickens. They have already got 2 of my hen while they were out during the day so now I can’t let them out unless I am home but I worry the dogs will break in to the coop. Is there ways to dog proof a coop?

parvo · **Joined:** Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:39 pm **Posts:** 735

You might want to try one of the following:
Solid wall for bottom 1 metre perimeter of coop- eg colourbond/zincalume sheets- all the way around, with strong wire mesh above it.
OR strong wire mesh, strong posts concreted into the ground with wire running down to the ground, then continued outwards away from the wall. This outward running section can be covered in soil. When the dogs try to dig into the coop- they hit wire.

I'm sure others on the forum will have even more suggestions.
Cheers

Parvo

Rhode Red · **Posted:** Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:14 pm

Try the good "old hot wire" (electric fence). You will need to buy the unit (Produce store), plain wire and isolators and hangers. Run it about 150 to 200mm off the ground, the hangers should be about 150mm long. Follow the manufacturers instructions.

Would need to know the type on pen your hens are in.
If transportable, reinfroce the walls and floor with a strong mesh 50mmx50mm about 4-6mm thick. This will stop them digging under. ensure the hens can move to an area where they cannot be seen/hide from the dogs. The dogs will run up and down just waiting for some form of movement, looking for a chase game.

If already permenant structure as per Parvo, but in retro-fit.

Rhode Red

timewarp · **Joined:** Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:13 pm **Posts:** 385

a cheap way is to run a hot wire on the outside of coop or pen , at 3-4inches above ground level

you could also try talking to the onwers of them

but i know this can at times make things harder to deal with , other than that i do have for sale sum very good deterers for unwanted dog entries

. cheers n beers gary

goodoo · **Posted:** Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:32 pm

Electric fences work very well with dogs. It will only take one hit or 2 if the dog is not very smart and they will not try again.
My dogs used to stare at the kids pet rabbits and terrify them, so I put a wire around the rabbit cage. After one shock the dogs wont even look at the rabbits, I think the dogs think it was the rabbits which shocked them.

Tribe of Geese · **Joined:** Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:05 pm **Posts:** 5

Yep electric fence works a treat the buggers dont like a zap

plane · **Joined:** Sat Mar 05, 2011 3:09 pm **Posts:** 1

The hot wire is also very good for stopping foxes you just put 4 rows on hot wire starting at 30cm off the ground and they won't go near your birds

Ben n Deb · **Posted:** Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:41 pm

I agree with the others... electric fence... Our ducks can free range in the back yard now and walk right under her nose, and our dog doesn't even blink. 2-3 shocks was all it took for her...

We had a dog get into our big pen the other day and kill about 7 birds.... so my husband hooked up the fence again, and I believe it only took 1 zap, and we haven't seen him around again.

Kassy · **Joined:** Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:14 pm **Posts:** 2

Thats great I will look into the electric fence, are they hard to install?

timewarp · **Joined:** Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:13 pm **Posts:** 385

just run a taunt wire thru insulators , hook it up to power , earth it , n hey presto ,

zap . cheers n beers gary

AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

dog proofing

Who is on the Forum