Predator proofing

[Matthew Colella]

So with our excessive number of raccoons and possums around we need to predator proof the pen. Could we just cover the top of the pen with chicken wire?

 

[KevinGG]

I don't think chicken wire is strong enough. What you want is welded wire mesh. About 1/2 inch wide. Here's a picture of the cage we just built for my new pen

 

[Matthew Colella]

Thanks

 

[johnsonnboswell]

Hardware cloth on a frame that locks down. Raccoons are clever about getting in.

 

[kathyth]

I agree with the above.

 

[WillTort2]

You must be diligent on the sides, top, and bottom. Predators and tortoises are diggers.

I have designed my outdoor pens by trenching about 8" to a foot around the pen border and then setting a treated 2" x 12" board into the top 2 inches of the poured concrete. Then using 1" x 6" treated deck boards I build a top framing that is covered with the 1/2" hard wire grid. You can design the deck boards to be hinged for access or put in a sliding system much like a double hung window. For even larger enclosures consider building a walk in enclosure about 7 feet tall.

Good luck.

 

[Matthew Colella]

We'll the bottom won't be a problem. The best way to describe the pen would be a large 4'x7' box without a lid