How to Keep a Weasel Out of a Chicken Coop

Many pet owners choose to care for chickens so they can produce their own eggs. However, chickens provide lunch for weasels and other predators as well. Therefore, it is important to protect the chicken coop from unwanted attention. You can secure the coop by following a few simple steps, and you will not need to spend your hard earned cash doing it. Allow a day to secure the chicken coop properly, to avoid repeating the process again.

Things You'll Need

  • Lawn mower
  • Sheers
  • Plywood
  • Shovel
  • Barbed Wire
  • Large Storage Containers
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Instructions

    • 1

      Move the chicken coop to a suitable area that will discourage weasels. Choose a slightly elevated space or an area near grazing animals, as these things pose a threat to weasels and they'll be less unlikely to visit.

    • 2

      Trim excess foliage and grass from around the coop. Use a lawn mower to cut long grass and remove large scrubs, branches and weeds with a pair of sheers. This opens up the area around the coop to prevent weasels hiding out to stalk the chickens nearby.

    • 3

      Dig a 2-foot trench next to the fence and insert a wall of plywood around the coop. This provides a barrier to stop weasels from digging underneath the fencing and getting to the chickens. Use thick wiring as a more cost-effective way of achieving this, if plywood is too costly.

    • 4

      Edge the top of the chicken coop fencing with barbed wire. Attach it by feeding it through the fencing and twisting it around to secure it. Put at least three horizontal strips across the edge to make sure the weasels are deterred.

    • 5

      Transfer all the chicken feed into large sealed containers, and only access it when necessary. Excess and easily accessible food provides a free dinner that requires little effort for the weasels to get at. However, sealing up the food means the weasels won't smell it and will have more difficultly reaching it.

    • 6

      Clean the chicken coop at least once a week. Remove old food, change the water and sweep up dirty debris left on the floor. A clean environment is less appealing to weasels.