Predator-proof coop and run
Predators are the main cause of losses in small flocks. Design so birds are locked in securely every night.
How
- Raise the coop at least 12 in (30 cm) off the ground or use a solid floor such as concrete or wood.
- Enclose the run in 1 x 2 in (2.5 x 5 cm) mesh, bury it 6 to 12 in (15 to 30 cm) deep, and cover the top with wire or netting (Oregon State).
- Netting or a wire roof also keeps out wild birds, which USDA notes can carry avian influenza.
- Add a motion-sensor light outside the coop and keep dense plants away from it.
- Make shutting birds in at dusk part of the daily routine, or fit an automatic door powered from your solar system.
Sources
- Living on the land: Backyard chicken coop design (EC 1644). Oregon State University Extension Service, accessed 2026-11
- Defend the Flock newsletter, Spring 2024. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), accessed 2026-11