This is what will happen if you ask me to look after your chickens - here is my 5th coop security audit. You can find the detailed audit report on my website.
You think I’m coming over to refill water and throw some scratch. I arrive with the same brain I use when I audit global management systems. Different scale. Same logic. A system is a system.
I walk around the perimeter first. I check for digging signs along the fence line, look at weak corners, test the door mechanism, and pay special attention to timing. Dawn and dusk are the real risk windows — predators see perfectly, chickens don’t see at all. If the automatic door closes too late because “it’s still kind of light,” that’s not romantic sunset lighting. That’s an open invitation for predators to try to plan their next ambush. Just to be clear - I love predators; they are so cute, smart, and graceful. But I also like to think like they do, understand their behavior, and play hide and seek with them.
I look at the feed storage. Elevated or chained feeders prevent humidity from turning grain moldy and stop the smell from spreading at night. Predators usually plan an ambush by scent first. They always want to have some tasty chicken food first. But once they discover blind, fluffy protein behind the fence, their motivation increases significantly. The first caught chicken just triggers the hunting instinct, and they will not be able to stop. Good design prevents about 80% of this even at the pre-planning ambush stage.
Inside the coop: perch height, ventilation without drafts, light placement, and whether the birds naturally move toward safe zones as it gets darker. You just have to help them and understand their needs. Chickens have very clear behavioral patterns. If you see them, safety becomes simple instead of dramatic.
Five coops in, across different states and even different countries, and I still love it. Whether it’s a headquarters boardroom or twelve opinionated hens, the principles are the same: layered defense, clear routines, and no blind spots - especially at night.
Here is the full chicken coop security audit report (real report!): https://bobkova.online/my-5th-coop-audit-report/
