Create a Bear Proof Chicken Coop | All You Need to Know

Imagine this: your chickens clucking contentedly in their coop, pecking around at whatever bugs they find on the ground, scratching in the dirt, the afternoon sun setting in the hills. That may seem like a picture of contentment and peace to you, something you wouldn’t want to disturb. But, there is someone, no, something, who would be happy to disturb your little hens in their little coop. That would be happy to disrupt that picture of peace. The bear.

Maybe you don’t have bears on your property or in the neighboring area, but chances are if you made it here you do. And that you are quite fed up with their involvement in your happy little coop. Let’s take a deep dive into some tips and tricks that you may need to keep those big black menacing creatures away from your feathered friends. Come with us and take a look at how to properly create a bear proof chicken coop.

What You Should Know About Bears

First of all, before we jump into things, it is good to understand some important things about bears, especially the black bears that may be preying on your flock. What should you know about bears?

Bears are Solitary Animals

Though there may be a few exceptions, most species of bears tend to live and hunt alone. Bears are also very territorial and will often mark their territory with scent markings, like claw marks on trees and urine. Because these beasts often hunt alone, you may not even realize a bear is prowling around your property until it is too late and you are paying the price of a dead hen.

Bears are Very Strong Animals

This probably doesn’t surprise you. If there is one thing a bear is known for, it’s the strength of its jaws and the power in its limbs. The muscled build of a bear allows it to climb, dig, and forage effectively. Its strong jaw allows it to crush its food and break into things. Paired with its strong limbs and strong jaws is a surprising amount of endurance and agility.

These animals can cover long distances and can swim and climb trees with ease. All the physical prowess of the bear should be enough to make you lock those coop doors tightly at night. Do not underestimate a determined and hungry black bear!

Bears have a Highly Developed Sense of Smell

A bear’s acute sense of smell is not something a chicken farmer will get excited about. Bears can smell potential prey from great distances. They can smell the presence of animals even when they are hidden or buried. They are great trackers and can follow the scent trail left behind by their prey. This means that they can smell your chickens and because they are opportunistic hunters, they will probably try to get into your coop!

How to Deter Bears from Your Chicken Coop

Now that you have a bit more information on these guys, (that you may or may not have known before), let’s look at how to keep bears from approaching your coop in the first place. How can we keep them away from our property, our trash, our hens, and potentially from even TRYING to get into the coop? Let’s look at some tips to create a truly bear proof chicken coop.

Use Noise Deterrents

Bears thankfully can be a bit skittish sometimes, and really don’t appreciate sudden noises. If you are struggling with bears being far too comfortable being on your property, it may be time to install some motion sensor alarms. Carrying a whistle or air horn with you when you go out to the coop or spot a bear on the property may also be helpful. Even loud singing or talking may scare them off if you have no other option.

Remove Garbage Around your House

Want to bear proof your entire property? Something that may be attracting bears to your property is simply food left outside or garbage on your property that isn’t properly disposed of. If you are wondering why bears keep showing up at your coop, then take a good look at your garbage bins or property to see if there is a food source aside from your chickens that could be tempting them.

It may be time to invest in a more secure garbage bin that cannot be easily opened. Maybe even try storing your garbage indoors until pickup day.

Watch out for other potential food sources on the property, whether it’s berries or scraps of food that may be tempting them. Don’t give those bears any more reason to be perusing your land. If you can keep them off your property, then having a bear proof chicken coop won’t even be a concern anymore.

Invest in Bear Spray

Many people buy bear spray with the intent of never having to use it, and maybe you never will. But you must be equipped should you run into a bear in your coop. Bears generally avoid humans and won’t want contact with you, but you can never be too safe! If you are suspicious of bears on the property, take bear spray along with you to the coop. If you have a run-in with a bear and do manage to give him a good spray, the chances of him wanting a visit with you again are considerably slimmer!

Keep the Area Around the Coop Cleared

Looking for ways to create a bear proof chicken coop? Take away their hiding spaces! No hunter likes to be out in the open and exposed, and that goes for bears too. Though growth like trees or bushes may seem like shade to your coop, they are great hiding spots for bears. It’s a good idea to trim bushes and other plants around your coop and keep the surrounding area groomed and neat.

How to create a Bear Proof Chicken Coop

Now we get to the really good stuff. Maybe you have done all this already. You keep the outdoor area orderly and think what you have is a pretty solid bear proof coop, you check your garbage and keep scraps off the lawn, and you even have a motion sensor alarm. But it’s not enough! Bears are still getting access to your coop. They still enjoy fresh chicken for supper. No more! It’s time to truly fight back and barricade that coop!

Use Bear Resistant Containers

First things first, the way you store your food in the coop is important to keep a bear proof chicken coop and property. If they get into the food one time, then they probably will again, or at least they will try again. By keeping the food in your run covered or in secure containers, you will reduce the likelihood of bears smelling the food and wanting to get in the coop as well. Leaving scraps of food in the chicken run is an invitation for a hungry bear to climb on in!

Use Secure Doors

This one may seem obvious, but it is easy to underestimate a bear. Maybe you can’t break in, but does that mean a bear can’t? Flimsy run doors that are made from wire or with a simple latch are way too easy for bears to compromise. Build strong doors around your coop run and consider switching up your locks if you find a bear is gaining access easily through the door. Having a strong coop door is one of the main chicken coop essentials you need.

If the door to the inside of the coop is not keeping bears out, then you also may need to consider investing in a new one. Automatic coop doors are ideal in these types of situations. You want your chickens to be able to go in and out of the coop throughout the day and it may get old closing the door every night and opening it every morning.

Automatic coop doors can be set to open and close automatically and are made from sturdy aluminum that will not allow anything, not even a black bear, to break in during the night.

Install Electric Fencing

Maybe you have tried a few of the above ways and still are having trouble with bears. A surefire way to create a bear proof chicken coop, especially if you are running out of ideas, is using an electric fence. Electric fencing will keep bears out of almost anything, so they are bound to work on other areas of your property as well. Generally installing electric fencing around your coop will cost you anywhere from $150-$400. So you do the math. Are your chickens worth the expense?

To truly deter bears, your fence should have a voltage of at least 6,000 volts. Be sure to check in with your electric fence regularly to ensure it is doing its job. Though modern electric fences are not a concern for humans, they still will deliver an unpleasant shock, so be careful around them (and warn your kids).

Be sure that your fence cannot be climbed through by bears or over and under. Also, check that there are no trees nearby that the bear could use to cross over the fence unaffected. If you are not familiar with installing electric fencing on your own, it would be wise to consult with a professional and have them do the job for you.

Elevate your Coop

There are various reasons to elevate your coop, one being so you don’t have to stoop down to access it, but one of the main reasons to raise your chicken coop has to do with predators. If you are having trouble with foxes, snakes, bears, or other types of “ground” predators accessing your coop, consider raising it a foot or two off the ground, maybe more!

Raising the coop makes it all the harder for big (and maybe slightly clumsy-looking) bears to gain access to your chickens. It should be said though, that this method should be combined with other bear-proofing methods to truly be effective. Don’t expect this form of bear-proofing to work perfectly well all on its own.

Use Durable Fencing

One of the biggest mistakes chicken farmers make is investing in a poorly built coop. A coop made from wood and wire thrown together is not a bear proof chicken coop! If you are struggling with predators accessing your coop, then you may already know that investing in a cheap chicken coop is not worth it.

Many coops are built with flimsy “chicken wire” which will do nothing to stand against a predator like a black bear, even though it would make sense to use “chicken wire” for a chicken coop. Though hardwire cloth may not be enough to keep a determined bear out of your coop, it will do a much better job. Consider burying the fencing of your coop a couple of inches at least into the ground. This makes it more difficult for bears to dig their way under your fence.

Once again, it is important to note that a hungry and determined bear may still be able to tear through what you thought was durable and strong fencing. Electric fencing may be the only sure way to truly keep a bear out of your coop.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it. Hopefully, you learned a thing or two about bear-proofing your coop. Bears can be quite the pests and can wreak havoc in your coop. Unfortunately, they are probably not the only pests that want some tasty chicken for supper. Check out our blogs on predator-proofing your coop from sly foxes, hawks, dogs, and other determined chicken-hungry animals. Your chickens (and you) deserve to live free of fear!