Predators from a tree branch?

I’m wondering how often a predator might try to drop on a coop from an overhanging tree branch… is this a thing?

Give us a little more. Anything is possible with a predator, especially a smart one.(Fox, Raccoon)

Like.. how high is branch, how close is tree. Is it a big tree, little tree, big branch, little branch short or long strong branch or spindly. could it support a predator ?? what other protection is in place.

How often!!! Do you think it's happening. Had any mysterious losses? Seen any signs?

A coop?? If it did would it be able to get in? Open top run? open coop door?

Jay......We need......more... .....info...power....

Hmm well let’s see…

The tree is gigantic, 40 foot or more. The base of the tree is 8 feet from the back corner of my coop. A low hanging branch extends to the front of my coop and if a heavy raccoon climbed out on it it would just perfectly lower under his weight right to the top of my chicken Fort Knox.

I could remove that branch easy enough and I probably should.

I haven’t suffered any losses because no one has been moved into this Fort Knox coop yet, but I’m very close and while I think it’s built like a tank, I’m considering all weakness from every angle right now before the move from the brooder.

Here’s a photo

Could it happen?
Yes. Definitely. It could easily happen. I can see a raccoon getting onto your coop and finding a space through which to grab a chicken. That's more likely than a raccoon getting into your Fort Knox coop - they grab a chicken and try to pull them through holes in the fence.
I can also visualize a snake getting in, or rats.

Do I think it's a high likelihood?
Different question.  No.
I would cut back the branch unless you really like the shade and are in an area where shade is important.
Maybe the plastic/tarp is also useful as a shade cloth?

I probably wouldn't worry too much about it, but if it's a concern at all, trim the branch. A single branch isn't worth the worry.

Thanks

Ye Ole Hoop Coop

Well, it looks small enough.. and if you aren't that fond of it... cut it back?  half way , all the way.

And if you do... attach a rope over the end and cut 1/2 way thru and pull it away from falling on and possibly puncturing your tarp.

You biggest worry is a coon and he will be all over it before he tries anything so courageous to drop on it. I would think???

Yes.

The hoop coop is built like Fort Coop.

Cattle panels, wired together, then covered in chicken wire and the covered yet again in hardware cloth. Using bailing wire as ties at every point of every seam like safety wire.

Ground cloth extends 3 feet on all side, the rear is fenced like a standard wooden fence and wrapped in chicken wire and hardware cloth,

The lower half of each side is lined with metal roofing sheets wired to the cattle panels and stuffed with steel wool,

And then the entire bottom circumference is wrapped in bird netting, twice … and it’s already snagged one unlucky snake… 🐍

All hardware cloth is double held down by screwed wood behind.

The whole coop will be surrounded by electric netting, and I could encompass the base of the tree… but any squirrels that live in that tree would be trapped until they figure out to jump to a nearby tree. We have a heavy squirrel population that I need to cut down a tad anyway.

I think it’s a tank, but I also don’t think like a raccoon with no place to go and all night.

Metal roofing material marked in red in this photo

Sounds pretty good, set a game cam up to see if you have anything questioning your preparedness.

Goodjob

Will Wit wrote:Sounds pretty good, set a game cam up to see if you have anything questioning your preparedness.

Goodjob

I considered both a camera and also placing some really tasty food inside for a night or two… like a whole fresh bag of trash in an open trash can or something… and see if anything could make it in. I need to move these chicks soon, they are 6 weeks now and really outgrowing my makeshift brooder in my outbuilding.

I think you have the issues pretty well covered. I wouldn't even worry about the branch. Your branch though, and from the looks of it you already know about the "better safe than sorry"

Have a good one, good luck with the chicks.

I was lucky to use a lot of reclaimed material.  Almost all of the wood framing came from old projects or neighbor throwaways.  A lot of the hardware cloth came from an old dismantled chicken coop a family member just wanted to get rid of - so I was happy to tear it down and haul it off.  The metal roof bits came out of a neighbors yard for free.  The only items purchased were the cattle panels (which I already had because we use them often in our gardening) and the chicken wire.  two new rolls of hardware cloth, and of course the new tarp.  Just working on it as I had time.