7 Best Secure Crates For Livestock Predators Old Farmers Swear By
Protect your livestock with time-tested solutions. We explore 7 secure predator crates that experienced farmers trust for their durability and effectiveness.
There’s a specific kind of quiet dread that settles in when you walk out to the barn at dawn and see a busted latch on a crate. You know, even before you look inside, that a raccoon or a fox has been there. Losing an animal to a predator feels like a personal failure, a lesson learned the hardest way possible.
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Why Predator-Proof Crates Are Non-Negotiable
A crate is more than just a box for transport; it’s a temporary safe room. Whether you’re separating a new animal, isolating a sick one, or moving your flock, that enclosure is their only line of defense. A cheap, flimsy plastic crate with a simple squeeze latch is an open invitation to a raccoon, whose dexterous paws can solve simple mechanical puzzles with terrifying ease.
The threat isn’t just raccoons. Coyotes and even stray dogs can apply brute force, crushing thin wire or popping weak plastic seams. A truly secure crate anticipates these attacks. It’s not about being mean; it’s about being responsible for the creatures in your care.
Think of it as an insurance policy. You might spend a bit more upfront on a crate with reinforced doors, solid construction, and complex latches, but that one-time cost prevents the repeated heartbreak and financial loss of losing animals. The right crate isn’t an expense; it’s a critical piece of farm infrastructure.
Gunner G1 Kennel: The Fort Knox of Crates
When you need absolute, unquestionable security, the Gunner is the standard. This isn’t just a crate; it’s a double-wall, roto-molded vault that has been tested against everything from shotgun blasts to being dropped off a cliff. For a hobby farmer, that level of engineering translates to total peace of mind against any predator, short of a determined bear.
The key features are its weight and its door system. The double-walled construction makes it heavy, which means a predator can’t easily tip it over or drag it away. The door is a masterpiece of security, with a paddle latch backed by a locking pin, making it impossible for a raccoon to manipulate. It’s built to contain a powerful dog, which means it will easily defeat a fox or coyote.
The tradeoff is obvious: cost and weight. A Gunner kennel is a serious investment, and you won’t be casually tossing it around. But if you have high-value livestock, live in an area with significant predator pressure, or need a crate that will last a lifetime, there is no substitute. It’s the definition of "buy once, cry once."
Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel for Secure Transport
The Petmate Vari Kennel is the reliable workhorse you see in every vet’s office and farm truck for a reason. While not on the same level as a Gunner, its bolt-together design provides significant strength compared to snap-together crates. The seams, secured with metal bolts and nuts, won’t pop open when a predator tries to pry it apart.
Its security comes from a few simple but effective features. The squeeze latch requires opposable thumbs, which immediately foils most animals. For added security against clever raccoons, the latch holes can be reinforced with a carabiner or a small padlock. This simple trick elevates it from a good crate to a genuinely secure one for temporary situations.
This kennel hits the sweet spot between affordability, security, and availability. It’s not the crate you’d leave a flock of chicks in overnight in the woods, but for secure transport or short-term separation inside a barn, it’s an excellent, budget-conscious choice. Always check that all the bolts are present and tightened before use.
Impact Collapsible Crate: Secure and Portable
Impact crates solve a major problem for hobby farmers: storage. Made from lightweight, powder-coated aluminum, these crates offer incredible strength without the back-breaking weight of steel. Their defining feature is their ability to collapse down to just a few inches thick, making them easy to store in a crowded barn or pack in a vehicle.
Don’t let "collapsible" fool you into thinking it’s weak. These crates are built for serious use, with welded corners and butterfly latches that are both secure and easy to operate with one hand. The solid aluminum walls prevent an animal from getting a tooth or claw hold, offering superior protection over wire-sided models.
The primary consideration here is the price, which is on the higher end. However, you’re paying for a combination of security and convenience that is hard to find elsewhere. For those who frequently travel with animals or have limited storage space but refuse to compromise on safety, the Impact crate is a brilliant solution.
Zinger Winger DX 5000: Welded Aluminum Armor
If you want the strength of an aluminum crate without the collapsible feature, Zinger is the name to know. These are built like aircraft components, with a focus on rigid, welded construction. The doors are reinforced and feature a slam latch backed by a secondary lock, providing a formidable barrier.
The Zinger’s strength is in its simplicity and raw durability. There are no moving parts to fail besides the latch itself. The solid bar door design prevents chewing and prying, and the overall construction can withstand significant force. It’s the kind of crate you bolt into the bed of a farm truck and leave there for a decade.
This is a specialized tool. It’s less about general portability and more about creating a permanent, secure den for a working dog or a safe transport box for valuable small livestock like breeding goats or sheep. It’s an investment in uncompromising strength for a specific, high-stakes purpose.
Producer’s Pride Welded Wire Crate for Poultry
When moving pullets or temporarily separating poultry, a common wire crate can be a death trap. Raccoons can reach through the wide gaps and pull birds apart. The solution is a heavy-duty, welded wire crate, like those often sold under the Producer’s Pride brand at farm supply stores.
The key differences are crucial:
- Weld Points: Every intersection is welded, not just crimped. This prevents a predator from prying the wires apart.
- Tight Grid: The wire spacing is much smaller, typically 1"x1" or 1"x2", preventing paws and beaks from reaching through.
- Solid Latch: It uses a simple but effective slide-bolt latch. Always add a carabiner clip through the bolt’s loop for 100% security.
These crates offer excellent ventilation and are easy to clean, but they provide no protection from the elements. They are strictly for temporary containment within a larger, secure structure like a barn or for supervised transport. For that job, they offer a perfect, affordable balance of security and practicality for poultry.
Ruff Land Kennels: One-Piece Roto-Molded Body
Ruff Land offers a fantastic middle ground between the utilitarian Petmate and the fortress-like Gunner. Its standout feature is the one-piece, roto-molded body. This means there are no seams—it’s a single, continuous piece of heavy-duty plastic, eliminating the weakest point found on two-piece, bolt-together crates.
This single-body construction makes the kennel incredibly strong and resistant to being crushed or pried apart. While lighter than a Gunner, it’s far more durable than standard plastic kennels. The composite doors are tough and can be configured in various ways, including with metal covers for extra security against chewers.
Ruff Land Kennels deliver premium security without the extreme weight or cost of the absolute top-tier options. They are easy to clean, durable, and offer a level of protection that will thwart all but the most powerful and determined predators. For many hobby farmers, this is the perfect all-around crate for everything from transport to temporary housing.
Behlen Country Kennel: Galvanized Steel Security
Sometimes you need more than a crate; you need a secure pen. The Behlen Country Kennel (or similar welded-wire kennel panels) provides a semi-permanent outdoor enclosure made from heavy-gauge, galvanized steel. This isn’t for picking up and moving around; it’s for creating a safe zone in your yard or barn.
These panels bolt together to form a run that is chew-proof, rust-resistant, and strong enough to contain larger livestock like goats or sheep, or to protect a whole flock of turkeys from ground-based predators. The tall sides prevent climbing or jumping, and the narrow wire mesh keeps predators out. The gate latches are typically designed to be padlock-compatible.
This is a different tool for a different job. It’s the ideal solution for introducing new animals, separating a ram or buck, or giving a mother and her young a safe space outdoors. Its main tradeoff is its lack of a roof, so you must consider threats from above, like hawks or owls, and either add a cover or place it strategically.
Ultimately, the best crate is the one that matches your specific threat level, your animals, and your budget. Don’t just look at the price tag; look at the latch, check the seams, and imagine a hungry predator trying to get in. Investing in security upfront is always cheaper than dealing with the loss later.
