🦊 Predator-Proofing 101: How to Turn Your Coop Into Fort Knox

Let’s face it—when you set up a backyard chicken coop, you’re not just feeding your family fresh eggs... you’re also putting on an all-you-can-eat buffet sign for every hungry raccoon, fox, hawk, and stray neighborhood cat within a five-mile radius.

But fear not, fellow chicken tender (see what we did there?). You don’t need to stand guard with a pitchfork. You just need to know how to Fort Knox your flock.

Here’s how to predator-proof your coop like a pro—with some laughs along the way.


🛑 Rule #1: Lock It Down Like Chicken Alcatraz

Predators are sneaky. Raccoons, in particular, have tiny criminal hands that can open basic latches like they’re trying out for “Chicken Mission: Impossible.”

What You Need:

  • Locking latches: Go for spring-loaded eye hooks, carabiners, or keyed locks. If it can be opened by a toddler, it can be opened by a raccoon.

  • No gaps: Make sure your coop doors close flush—no gaps or wobbles. Predators can smell weakness. Literally.

🐔 Pro tip: OverEZ Coops come with pre-installed, predator-resistant latches—because chickens deserve security too.


🧱 Rule #2: Don't Let Them Dig It

A lot of predators—think foxes, coyotes, even dogs—go under before they try going over. If your run sits on bare dirt, you might as well put up a welcome mat.

Fix That Fast:

  • Hardware cloth apron: Bury a skirt of ½" hardware cloth around the perimeter of your run, extending it outward 12–18 inches underground or laid flat and staked down.

  • Concrete or pavers: Want to go full bunker mode? Line the coop base with pavers or concrete blocks.

🦊 Fun fact: Foxes can dig like furry little bulldozers. Give them the boot before they even start.


✈️ Rule #3: The Sky Isn't Safe Either

If your chickens free-range or your run is open, hawkward things can happen. Birds of prey love a fresh chicken nugget.

Air Cover Essentials:

  • Chicken wire ceiling or netting over your run

  • Hiding spots like shrubs or a small roofed section give hens a safe place to duck and cover.

🦅 Predator check: Hawks tend to strike silently from above. If your hens suddenly scream and scatter—look up!


🐍 Rule #4: The Smaller the Hole, the Bigger the Problem

Snakes, weasels, rats—tiny terrorists that only need a hole the size of a golf ball to slither in and cause chaos.

What Works:

  • ½" hardware cloth on all vents, windows, and gaps (NOT chicken wire—it’s too flimsy!)

  • Seal up all cracks with wood or metal flashing. Think like a mouse—if it looks cozy, it’s gotta go.


🔦 Rule #5: Night Time = Fight Time

Predators come out when the sun goes down and the chickens are roosting, sleepy, and defenseless. Your coop needs to be Fort Knox at night especially.

Set Up Night Security:

  • Automatic coop doors that lock at dusk

  • Motion-activated lights around the coop

  • Trail cameras to catch sneaky visitors in the act

🛏️ Your flock’s bedtime should be peaceful, not a thriller movie. Let them rest in safety.


🧼 Bonus Tip: Don’t Forget to Clean!

Leftover feed, broken eggs, or poop buildup attract predators like it’s chicken Happy Hour. Keep it clean, keep it safe.


🧠 Final Cluck: You Got This

Predator-proofing might sound intense, but it’s way easier when you start with a solid coop design—like the ones from OverEZ Chicken Coop (wink wink). Our coops come with heavy-duty construction, locking hardware, and secure ventilation so you don’t have to DIY your way through predator panic.

Because your chickens? They’re not just birds. They’re family. And no fox, hawk, or sneaky raccoon is getting past you now.

Secure the coop. Sleep like a hen. 🐓💪