Coops & runs
How to fox-proof a chicken run (UK): the checklist that prevents heartbreak
Fox-proofing is not one feature. It’s a chain of decisions — mesh, fixings, doors, skirts, and a nightly routine you never skip.
Hard truth: foxes don’t need you to be careless every day — they only need you to be careless once.
Welded mesh
Dig-proofing
Latches
Night routine
The fox-proofing checklist
If you tick every box, you’re miles ahead of most backyard setups.
1) Walls: welded mesh
Chicken wire keeps chickens in — predators out is welded mesh.
2) Roof: cover or mesh
Stops climbers and reduces wild bird contact.
3) Ground: dig-proof
Skirt outward, or bury mesh. Foxes dig.
4) Door: no weak edge
Most failures are at doors and corners.
5) Latches: lockable
Bolts + carabiners/locks. Simple hooks are a joke.
6) Fixings: screws & washers
Staples alone can pull out over time. Fix mesh like you mean it.
Non-negotiable: if you can flex the mesh away from the frame with your hand, it’s not secure enough.
The 5 failure points (where runs actually get breached)
- Door gaps — a corner that looks “fine” becomes a leverage point.
- Cheap staples — they loosen, rust, then pop.
- Ground edge — mesh stops at the soil and digging starts.
- Rotting timber — structural weakness makes everything else irrelevant.
- Human habits — forgetting a latch when tired or rushing.
If you’ve had a near miss, don’t patch it — rebuild that part properly.
Your nightly routine (the boring part that saves birds)
- Count heads (know your flock size every night).
- Close the coop/run door at a consistent time.
- Latch check: pull on the door, check corners, check roof edges.
- Quick visual scan for digging attempts along the base.
Automation helps: an automatic door can reduce “forgot once” risk — but you still need latches on the run.
Fox-proof shopping list (keep it simple)
- Welded mesh (walls + roof as needed)
- Screws + large washers (or proper fencing staples + battens)
- Heavy-duty hinges
- Bolts + carabiners/locks for every access point
- Timber braces (to stop racking/warping)
Money truth: spend on mesh and latches first. Pretty features come later.