How to Protect Chickens from Predators

The primary function of a chicken coop is to keep your flock safe from predators. Even if you live in a quiet suburban neighborhood, you’d be surprised by how many animals may pose a threat to your chickens!

Different areas of the USA have different predators. Getting to know what type of animals frequent your backyard is essential for protecting your chickens from attack. Depending on the type of predator, you may need to prevent animals that climb or dig from being able to get into your coop and run. 

In this handy guide, we go through the common chicken predators in the USA and how to create a predator-proof setup for your backyard chickens.

Key Takeaways

• Coyotes, raccoons, and dogs are some of the biggest threats to backyard chickens in the U.S., especially in suburban and rural areas.
• Birds of prey like hawks and owls can easily attack free-ranging chickens if adequate shelter or run coverage is not provided.
• Use a combination of tall fences, hardware cloth or chicken wire, and sensor lights to deter predators from digging, climbing, or breaking into your chicken coop.
• Roof your chicken run to protect chickens from aerial attacks.
• Keep your chickens safe at night by locking them in a secure coop and ensuring there are no gaps or weak spots for predators to exploit.
• Regularly maintain your coop and surrounding area by cutting back vegetation and checking for potential entry points to keep your flock safe from all types of predators.

Common Chicken Predators

Unfortunately, backyard chickens are vulnerable to attack from all sorts of predators. Although wild animals like foxes and coyotes pose a big threat, in many areas backyard chickens are just as likely to be attacked by pet dogs or strays. Even a house cat can be dangerous to small chicks!

Different predators pose different threats to your chickens, so your flock will require different types of protection depending on where you live and what type of animals might prey on your chickens.

While getting to know your local wildlife will help you understand how to protect your chickens, it is important to remember that many animals are shy of humans and just because you've never seen a fox or coyote does not mean that they might not pose a threat to your backyard chicken coop.

Protecting Chickens from Dogs

A strong, well-secured coop and run are essential for keeping chickens safe from dogs. Even if your own pet dog is fine around chickens, both roaming pet dogs and strays can pose a threat to chickens. Even friendly dogs can turn deadly around chickens if not carefully monitored.

Key protection methods:

• Build a predator-proof chicken coop with sturdy, high fences.
• Avoid cheap, flimsy coops such as cedar chicken tractors, as a dog can easily break through the sides.
• Install a solid floor or wire (e.g. chicken wire or hardware cloth) beneath the pen to stop digging.
• Create a fenced-in area that is secure from top to bottom, especially in rural areas where coyotes or wild dogs are common.

Protecting Chickens from Coyotes

Coyotes are one of the top predators for backyard chickens, especially in rural and suburban areas. These cunning animals are excellent diggers and can easily breach poorly secured coops. They often hunt at night, but daytime attacks are also common.

Key protection methods:

• Use strong, tall fencing (at least 6 feet high) around your coop and reinforce it with an apron of mesh to prevent digging. 
• Roof your chicken run if you can, or at least alter the top of the fence to deter coyotes from climbing over. A hot wire, barbed wire or PVC pipe can work, as can loose chicken wire that bends outwards.
• Install motion-activated lights or noisemakers around the coop to scare off coyotes. Motion-activated sprinklers can also work.
• Lock your chickens in a secure coop at night, especially in areas where coyotes are common.

Protecting Chickens from Raccoons

Raccoons are notorious for their intelligence and ability to manipulate objects, such as coop latches. They can also reach through small openings to grab chickens or eggs. Raccoons are normally nocturnal, so a secure coop is the most important protection for your chickens, but you should also monitor your flock to ensure raccoons are not hanging around during the day.

Key protection methods:

• Secure all coop doors and windows with locks that raccoons cannot open, like carabiner-style latches.
• Use hardware cloth with holes no larger than 1/2 inch to prevent raccoons from reaching through.
• Make sure your coop has no weak spots that raccoons could exploit.
• Motion-activated sprinklers and lights can also deter raccoons.

Protecting Chickens from Foxes

Foxes are one of the most notorious predators of backyard chickens in the USA, especially in suburban and rural areas. These cunning animals can dig, climb, and force their way into poorly secured coops.

Key protection methods:

• Build a coop with solid walls and floors or a hardware cloth apron that extends outward from the base to prevent digging.
• Use tall fences with floppy tops to prevent foxes from climbing over. Hot wires, barbed wire or PVC pipe are other options.
• Install sensor lights, noisemakers or sprinklers around your chicken coop to deter nighttime visits.

Protecting Chickens from Birds of Prey

Hawks, eagles, and owls are expert hunters and can pose a significant threat to free-ranging chickens. Even in suburban areas, these birds can easily swoop down and carry off an unsuspecting chicken.

Key protection methods:

• Roof your chicken run to block aerial attacks.
• Provide plenty of access to shelter, like bushes or trees, so your chickens have a place to hide if they spot a bird of prey.

Protecting Chickens from Cats

Domestic cats are very unlikely to pose a threat to chickens, and even strays are not usually big enough to threaten an adult hen. However, chicks and bantams may be vulnerable to attack. If you live in more rural areas, bobcats and other wild cats definitely pose a threat to your chickens.

Key protection methods:

• Build a coop with solid walls and floors.
• Ensure your chickens are securely locked up at night, when many cats are active.
• Roof your chicken run or take other measures to prevent cats from scaling fences, such as a floppy top or hot wire.
• Install sensor lights, noisemakers or sprinklers.
• Provide extra protection for chicks, particularly if you live in an area where stray cats are common or you have neighbours who let their cats roam.

Protecting Chickens from Snakes

Snakes are often drawn to chicken coops in search of eggs or chicks. While most snakes in the USA are not large enough to harm adult chickens, they can easily decimate a nest of eggs or kill smaller birds.

Key protection methods:

• Use hardware mesh with small holes (1/2 inch or smaller) at the bottom of the coop to prevent snakes from squeezing through.
• Seal all gaps and holes in the coop and secure doors tightly.
• Keep grass and vegetation around the coop short to minimize snake hiding spots.

Protecting Chickens from Opossums and Skunks

Opossums and skunks, while not as agile or clever as raccoons, still pose a threat to your chickens. They are more likely to go after eggs or injured birds but can attack healthy chickens if the opportunity arises.

Key protection methods:

• Ensure that coop doors are securely locked at night.
• Use fine hardware cloth around the coop to keep these animals from gaining access.
• Clean up any fallen food or waste around the coop to avoid attracting skunks.

Protecting Chickens from Bears

In some parts of the U.S., especially rural or mountainous areas, black bears are a significant threat to backyard chickens. Bears are incredibly strong and can rip apart poorly constructed coops with ease.

Key protection methods:

• Build a solid, bear-proof coop using heavy-duty materials like reinforced wood or metal.
• If bears are a genuine threat in your area, electric fencing around the coop is the best way to deter them.
• Avoid leaving any food or compost out that might attract bears to your yard.

How to Predator-Proof Your Chicken Coop - Step by Step

With threats coming from every direction - from the air, underground, over fences, or through small gaps - a comprehensive predator-proof chicken coop setup is crucial.

1. Prevent Break-ins
   • Use solid, sturdy walls for the coop.
   • Opt for chicken wire or hardware cloth with holes no greater than 1/2 inch to keep out small predators like snakes.
   • Ensure there are no gaps in door frames or windows.
   • Install sensor lights to deter nocturnal predators.
2. Prevent Burrowing
   • A solid floor in the coop is best.
   • If a solid floor isn’t possible, install a hardware cloth floor or an apron extending outward from the base of the coop (at least 12 inches) to stop predators from digging underneath.
   • In areas where digging predators like coyotes or foxes are common, an apron around the chicken run is also strongly advised.
3. Prevent Climbing
   • Ensure your coop has no openings where a predator could enter, even in the roof. Any windows or other ventilation should be covered with sturdy wire mesh or hardware cloth.
   • Roof your chicken run if at all possible.
   • If your chicken run is too large to roof, use tall, sturdy fences at least 6 feet tall.
   • Take measures to ensure your fences are not scalable. Floppy tops of wire will prevent predators like foxes, coyotes, or raccoons from climbing over. Alternatively, hot wires (electrified wires) are very effective. Barbed wire or PVC pipe may also work.
   • Trim any overhanging branches near the coop or run.
4. Prevent Attacks from Above
   • Always use wire or netting to roof your chicken run to block birds of prey.
   • Provide access to sheltered areas like trees, bushes, or covered pens to give chickens a place to escape if needed.
5. Other Predator Deterrents
   • Keep the grass around the coop short to reduce hiding spots for snakes and other small predators.
   • Use motion-sensor lights to scare off predators at night.
   • Use motion-activated noisemakers or sprinklers around the coop to deter predators.
   • Consider a livestock guardian animal.

Final Thoughts on Predator-Proofing Your Chicken Coop

Creating a predator-proof chicken coop is essential for the safety and well-being of your flock. By taking preventative measures, you’ll ensure that your chickens stay safe from the variety of predators that could threaten them, from raccoons and hawks to coyotes and neighborhood dogs. With a well-built coop and smart security strategies, you can rest easy knowing your chickens are protected day and night.

Happy chicken keeping!

Rachael at Dine a Chook