I was sure my coop was secure until a hawk showed me the weak spot

For two years I thought my 1-inch chicken wire was enough to keep predators out, especially from above. Then last Tuesday I saw a red-tailed hawk land right on top of the run and try to reach through with its talons. The wire held, but it bent easily under its weight, and I realized a bigger, determined bird could rip right in. I immediately swapped it out for half-inch hardware cloth over the whole top, which cost about $80 extra. Has anyone else had a close call that made you upgrade your setup in a hurry?

3 comments

3 Comments

christopher_craig1mo ago

Did you check for weak spots at ground level too?

christopherwilson1mo ago

Checked that first thing. Honestly think the real risk is higher up where the wind hits it.

alice1211h ago

Oh dear, I totally get what you're saying here. @christopher_craig brings up a good point about ground level weak spots, but I think we all know rot and damage can hide anywhere. I once had a fence where the top boards looked fine but the posts were mush at the base, so I learned the hard way to check both ends. It's frustrating when you think you've got it covered but there's always another spot to worry about. Honestly, I feel for anyone dealing with this, because it's never as simple as it seems.