Advice on secure quail hutch

[CindyGen]

I built what I thought was a secure hutch for my quail with 19 ga hardware cloth. A friend that has chickens looked at it and said a raccoon will tear that hardware cloth right open. Please make suggestions to prevent that. I have not moved my quail outside into it yet. Thanks!

 

[Chickenslol]

Your hutch looks pretty secure, what type of hardware cloth are you using? Do you know that it is made of? If it's stapled in you can totally put TONS of staples on the sides where it meets the wood and see how that goes. Are you keeping your hutch right where it is now? I'm not an expert on the raising of quails, but if you want you could move it closer to one of the buildings on your property so it's not so wide open and less of a target.

EDIT: oops you said what kind it was in the first post lol you can totally do 19 ga, and you can totally go bigger or smaller, i knew a person who built their coop with 24 ga. it was hard to work with, but effective. i'd recommend 14 if you want to be really safe, but because it's off the ground you've got much better chances. also try to get smaller holes in your wire just to be safe

 

[Alaskan]

You can also trim the hardware cloth with wood strips over the staples.

If the wire doesn't feel stout enough, put a second layer of stouter wire over the first.

 

[vall]

I use 19 ga 1/2" hw cloth for my quail pens. I do reinforce with screws+washers, not just staples. Being high off the ground like yours is helps. Raccoons can open those latches though if they're the barrel type.

 

[CindyGen]

I use 19 ga 1/2" hw cloth for my quail pens. I do reinforce with screws+washers, not just staples. Being high off the ground like yours is helps. Raccoons can open those latches though if they're the barrel type.

I used poultry staples which are really U-shaped nails is that the same kind of staples you are talking about?

 

[CindyGen]

You can also trim the hardware cloth with wood strips over the staples.

If the wire doesn't feel stout enough, put a second layer of stouter wire over the first.

I think I will do that I will look for some heavier duty wire and make a second layer.

 

[CindyGen]

Your hutch looks pretty secure, what type of hardware cloth are you using? Do you know that it is made of? If it's stapled in you can totally put TONS of staples on the sides where it meets the wood and see how that goes. Are you keeping your hutch right where it is now? I'm not an expert on the raising of quails, but if you want you could move it closer to one of the buildings on your property so it's not so wide open and less of a target.

EDIT: oops you said what kind it was in the first post lol you can totally do 19 ga, and you can totally go bigger or smaller, i knew a person who built their coop with 24 ga. it was hard to work with, but effective. i'd recommend 14 if you want to be really safe, but because it's off the ground you've got much better chances. also try to get smaller holes in your wire just to be safe

Planning to move it behind the greenhouse. I will replace the door latches for sure!

 

[vall]

I used poultry staples which are really U-shaped nails is that the same kind of staples you are talking about?

I meant staple gun staples. The ones you nail in should be harder to pry off so you are probably fine.

 

[CindyGen]

I meant staple gun staples. The ones you nail in should be harder to pry off so you are probably fine.

I ordered door latches that I can put a carbiner through.

 

[aart]

It's all about how the HC is attached......can't see that in your pic.
Putting better latches on is definitely needed.