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Chicken Predators and Coop Protection

Don't Let Your Ladies Get Plucked!

Raising chickens is fun—until something with claws, paws, or wings decides your flock looks like an all-you-can-eat buffet. Whether you're new to chicken-keeping or just tired of missing eggs and missing hens, here's what you need to know to keep your ladies safe and your sanity intact.

The Chicken & Egg Snatchers 

  • Raccoons: Smart, sneaky, and rude. They'll reach through wire, open latches, and drag a chicken through a hole the size of a donut.
  • Dogs: Even sweet family dogs sometimes turn into feathery tornadoes. They don’t mean to be nasty—they just can’t help the chase.
  • Skunks: They don’t just stink—they sip eggs like little breakfast bandits. Sometimes they go after chickens too.
  • Hawks: Silent, sharp, and not here to make friends. If your hens free-range without cover, these birds will dive in for takeout.
  • Snakes: Slither into the coop like they own the place. Most go for eggs, but big ones can gulp down chicks or even bite full-grown hens.
  • Cats: That stray tabby may look cute, but if you’ve got bantams or babies, it’s not above pouncing for fun.
  • Opossums, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats: All love a midnight snack—and yes, your chickens are on the To-Go menu.

Coop Defense 101: How to Protect Your Beloved Hens

1. Lock It Down with a Smart Coop

The Smart Coop at Family Backyard Store is like Fort Knox for chickens—but cuter. It has a strong steel run base, tough wire, and a solid build that stops raccoons, diggers, and nighttime creepers cold. Bonus: it's easy to clean.

Coop Smart Coop AI Driven Cameras for Coop Protection

The AI-powered cameras are trained to detect real predators—not your pets—plus an emergency SOS Mode that auto-activates lights, barking sounds, and door shut for instant flock protection. Controlled by the Coop App, the AI-enabled automatic door can be scheduled, overridden manually.

 

2. Use an Automatic Coop Door—Because You’re Not Sleeping in the Coop

Chickens don't wear watches. When the sun sets, they go to bed. But if you forget to close the door? That’s an open invitation to a late-night chicken massacre.

The Family Backyard Store Automatic Chicken Coop Door Quiz helps you find a door that fits your coop and your birds (because yes—size matters). Some doors are solar powered. Some work with an app. Some even close on a timer while you binge-watch your favorite home improvement show. Fancy, right?

3. Predator-Proof Wire Mesh

It’s strong and stops raccoons from playing claw crane with your hens. Cover windows, vents, and any spot bigger than a golf ball.

Hen House Collection chicken runs have the option for predator-proof 1/2" x 1/2" wire mesh to keep those extra sneaky predators out and your hens safe.

4. Keep It Clean, Keep It Closed

Leftover feed is like a dinner bell for pests. So is a coop that doesn’t close right.

Hen House Collection Feed Bin

Clean up spilled food, latch all doors tight, and collect eggs daily unless you want to feed the wildlife. 

As an added bonus, both Driftless Outdoors and Hen House Collection coops offer optional feed rooms and separate feed bins for extra storage and added protection.

5. Add Some Fancy Features

Removable roost bars, clean-out lids, and litter trays make life easier for you—and a clean coop means fewer unwanted visitors. Gas prop lids on nesting boxes also save your back while grabbing eggs (because let’s be honest, nobody wants to do coop yoga while juggling fresh eggs).

Final Thoughts - Don’t Get Clucked Over

If you’re raising chickens, you’re basically their bodyguard. The coop is their castle—and you’ve got to protect it like royalty lives there. Build strong, use smart features, and let the automatic door do the night shift.

Not sure which automatic door fits your setup? Take our quiz and get matched to one that works for your coop, your chickens, and your schedule. Your ladies will sleep safer—and so will you.

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