Ok, so we are going to enclose the hutch with twelve by twelve dog kennel panels. We have it set up and will put stone on the floor of it next weekend. I am wondering what to use to perhaps cover the top with something that would at least hinder a coon. A few layers of chicken wire would be light and easy to deal with, but if anybody has any other ideas let me know. The hutch has its own shingled roof so it would not have to be solid. Will probably put tarps over each kennel panel to keep people from seeing the rabbits, as well as extra wind break. Should be ready for a few rabbits sometime in July.
Keeping racoons out
- Thread starter BlueHaven
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If it were me, I'd surround the top of your panels with an electric fence wire. A raccoon will certainly climb the fence panels but a good, hot, electric wire at the top, supported by those longer insulators so the wire is held slightly outside the top edge of the fencing, should provide a satisfying surprise for any attempted trespasser.
Raccoons are amazingly strong... I have two "heavy-duty raccoon live-traps" (that's how they were advertised) with holes ripped right through the heavy-gauge wire floors. Caught the raccoon but didn't get to the trap soon enough and it just tore a hole right through the wire and escaped! Not sure anything short of chain-link wire would be sufficient to stop them.
And another thought... I recently build a 12' x 24' outdoor shadehouse for my rabbits. Started with 90% shadecloth on the walls, thinking that would help protect them from direct sunlight but still "breathe". I was wrong. It was like an oven. No air circulation. Had to remove the 90% shadecloth and install 60%. Now they're protected from sunlight but still have good ventilation.
If you're considering covering your panels with solid tarps, you might run into a similar lack of airflow needed to prevent overheating in the summer. Just a thought...
Good luck!
Raccoons are amazingly strong... I have two "heavy-duty raccoon live-traps" (that's how they were advertised) with holes ripped right through the heavy-gauge wire floors. Caught the raccoon but didn't get to the trap soon enough and it just tore a hole right through the wire and escaped! Not sure anything short of chain-link wire would be sufficient to stop them.
And another thought... I recently build a 12' x 24' outdoor shadehouse for my rabbits. Started with 90% shadecloth on the walls, thinking that would help protect them from direct sunlight but still "breathe". I was wrong. It was like an oven. No air circulation. Had to remove the 90% shadecloth and install 60%. Now they're protected from sunlight but still have good ventilation.
If you're considering covering your panels with solid tarps, you might run into a similar lack of airflow needed to prevent overheating in the summer. Just a thought...
Good luck!
If you've ever seen the damage a raccoon can do to a rabbit...
I recommend you go with chain link on the top of the dog pen as well. Be certain to close any gaps more than a couple of inches. Then shade cloth over the top and the sides that need it. (I've seen some places that actually has shade cloth cut / made for dog pens.) The shade cloth will provide both protection and privacy.
And I'd have my trap out on a regular basis.
I recommend you go with chain link on the top of the dog pen as well. Be certain to close any gaps more than a couple of inches. Then shade cloth over the top and the sides that need it. (I've seen some places that actually has shade cloth cut / made for dog pens.) The shade cloth will provide both protection and privacy.
And I'd have my trap out on a regular basis.
I agree with Suburban Homemaker -- put chain link over the top of the kennel as well. We built a chain link structure over a frame, with chain link over the top and it kept the raccoons out very well. We "sewed" the courses of chain link together using a spool of 20 gauge wire we happened to have and it held up for years.
The thing about raccoons is that if they EVER get access to a rabbitry or chicken house, they cause much more misery after that with their increasingly determined efforts to get in. If you can keep them out from the beginning, they will quit trying sooner and go elsewhere.
And yes, they can tear up those live traps and escape. We had that happen here a week or so ago.
The thing about raccoons is that if they EVER get access to a rabbitry or chicken house, they cause much more misery after that with their increasingly determined efforts to get in. If you can keep them out from the beginning, they will quit trying sooner and go elsewhere.
And yes, they can tear up those live traps and escape. We had that happen here a week or so ago.
owlsfriend
Well-known member
This is the first "tarp shed"....I've since enlarged it to 11'X12' by adding 5ft gate panels to the front and back. Rather than use PVC to support the roof (inadequate under snow load to begin with) I used hog fence panels arched from side to side of the larger kennel. I put movable T-shaped supports inside to help with snow load (and make it easier on cleaning days to be able to move them out of the way.) Note the reinforce duct tape where I've zip-tied the tarps to the Kennel...very helpful.
Also, I've put accordion panels of styrofoam insulation over the hog panels to keep the tarps from wearing against the wire. (you could put chain link over the hog fence panels and the insulation over that.) My tarps not only last all winter without leaking, they may go multiple years--which was not the case before the styrofoam was added! For added light, I used 8ml vinyl shower curtains from the dollar store--lets the buns get some sun, also easy to clean!
As for the tarps themselves. In the winter, I've had to make a small cut in the back where the house protects the shed from the wind with a small exhaust fan there, to move stale air out. In the summer, I roll up all sides and only batten-down in case of heavy rains.
I have two fans at the back of the shed, turned in, during summer. One is high at the south east corner and the other is low at the east side between rows of cages. I keep my bucks near the fans to hopefully keep fertility going.
Use my 5 year experiment to your advantage. Kim
