Attaching Hardware Cloth to Metal

[Wise Woman]

Hello everyone! Well it is finally happening! I am getting a new coop with a covered run. However, I am NOT getting what I had planned. Due to time constraints, we have opted to get a metal carport to convert into a covered run and will be building a coop inside this run. I had wanted something similar to a Carolina Coop, but my husband just does not have the time to build such a thing. And yes we have checked with some carpenter types and the cheapest we can find is $20 per hour plus materials, so we won't save any money by doing that. We are doing the best we can with the time and money we have available.

My question is this. I want to attach 1/4" hardware cloth to the metal carport supports. I was told this could be done with self tapping metal screws. Ok. I thought the posts would be either 3 ft or 4 ft apart but it turns out they are 38" apart. So if we ran the hardware cloth vertically, we would have to buy the 48" rolls and cut 10" off. Or we could run it around horizontally and eliminate all that cutting and waste, but I do not know a secure way to then attach the two panels of wire together. Any thoughts on this?

Also my husband does not think we need to use hardware cloth but that something bigger would work just as well. I say no, as I do not want anything to get into this run. Any thoughts on using something larger? I fear that critters(we have rattle snakes, coyotes, bobcats, ferral cats, hawks, owls, mice, rats, racoons and who knows what else) could get in if we use anything bigger than 1/4" or possibly 1/2" hardware cloth. I am only going to get one chance to do this right. I have been waiting for this since 2011 so I really want it done right the first time. I want this to be the best coop/run we can build.

Thanks for any ideas you might have on connecting two pieces of hardware cloth together so they are good and tight and secure.

Cheers!

 

[Rick&chickTampa]

Zip ties will probably work

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi.

Anything larger than 1/2 in hardware cloth and you WILL have raccoon rip the head off a chicken very easily. At least the bottom 18 inches where the birds may be hanging out and foraging. Anything larger is simply to keep chickens in, but will not work to keep other things out.

I discovered that 1/2 and 1/4 in hardware cloth are not the same thickness or gauge of wire, it is thinner. So I don't know if having the holes smaller is better or having the gauge larger, making it harder to chew through.

Sorry, I don't have the answer for attaching to the metal run. But will note not to store anything under it that shouldn't get wet, because the metal roofs sweats VERY bad and on some cold sunny mornings it is practically raining under my metal run and in my pole barn... no matter HOW much ventilation it has it still drips (usually at places where it touches the frame).

I hope it goes really well for you! That is a long time to wait.

Ya, I understand people need to get paid, but I also can't afford to pay $20/hour and materials aren't cheap either. Even though my set up hasn't been perfected and probably never will be 100%, I still have sooo much fun keeping chickens!

 

[Okiedori]

Hello everyone! Well it is finally happening! I am getting a new coop with a covered run. However, I am NOT getting what I had planned. Due to time constraints, we have opted to get a metal carport to convert into a covered run and will be building a coop inside this run. I had wanted something similar to a Carolina Coop, but my husband just does not have the time to build such a thing. And yes we have checked with some carpenter types and the cheapest we can find is $20 per hour plus materials, so we won't save any money by doing that. We are doing the best we can with the time and money we have available.

My question is this. I want to attach 1/4" hardware cloth to the metal carport supports. I was told this could be done with self tapping metal screws. Ok. I thought the posts would be either 3 ft or 4 ft apart but it turns out they are 38" apart. So if we ran the hardware cloth vertically, we would have to buy the 48" rolls and cut 10" off. Or we could run it around horizontally and eliminate all that cutting and waste, but I do not know a secure way to then attach the two panels of wire together. Any thoughts on this?

Also my husband does not think we need to use hardware cloth but that something bigger would work just as well. I say no, as I do not want anything to get into this run. Any thoughts on using something larger? I fear that critters(we have rattle snakes, coyotes, bobcats, ferral cats, hawks, owls, mice, rats, racoons and who knows what else) could get in if we use anything bigger than 1/4" or possibly 1/2" hardware cloth. I am only going to get one chance to do this right. I have been waiting for this since 2011 so I really want it done right the first time. I want this to be the best coop/run we can build.

Thanks for any ideas you might have on connecting two pieces of hardware cloth together so they are good and tight and secure.

Cheers!

 

[Okiedori]

I like your thoughts on 1/4 or 1/2 inch hardware cloth as snakes can definitely get through chicken wire. Instead if cutting off the 10" try over lapping.

 

[Howard E]

I think the horizontal run is the best. To hold the seam edges together in space, use wire cage clips:

https://www.amazon.com/Miller-Manufacturing-ACC1-Clips-1-Pound/dp/B000FJX85A

For economy and strength, I'd go with 1/2" hardware cloth, or my preference is actually 1/2" x 1" 16 gauge welded wire, which is sold as cage wire in some stores. A mouse might get past/thru that, but nothing else will. Normally 24" widths, but I've seen it as wide as 48" in at least one farm supply store. Sold in 100' rolls. Pricey but Fort Knox comes in second compared to the security of that stuff.

Sheet metal screws with a washer should do, with maybe wire wraps on the corners for additional security. The "belt AND suspenders" approach to keeping your pants up?

 

[dlp40]

Just overlap the hardware cloth 3-6 squares and run the screws through both sections of cloth. I've don't this several times by starting at the top (hardest part) then leaving out the bottom screws until the next section is overlaid. Then just repeat until done.

I will say that hardware cloth, in my experience, will not keep out anything bigger then a small dog. A coyote or med-large dog can, if determined, get through the hardware cloth by biting it and rolling. My friend has had this happen several times. She actually has caught the dog with its head threw his newly created hole, a couple times.
For coyotes and big cats I would suggest a 2 wire approach. Something like woven 2x4 inch wire over the hardware will prevent all the predators you have listed in your post.

Another consideration for predator prodding your coop/run is digging. A concrete footing about 6-12 inches wide by a foot deep would be ideal. I also think a skirt of woven wire and hardware cloth a foot below the ground could work to deter most. Although mice and rats could dig under just about anything you do eventually.

Hope this helps in your dession.
David

 

[getaclue]

The coop environment produces a lot of "dust" which will accumulate on the wire fairly quickly reducing air circulation. Where I live, summers are hot, so air circulation is a major consideration. I like the 1/2 inch wire better, for that reason.

Screws, and washers to attach the wire, work well at first, but after a few years, I find the screw holes, or the screws rust, so they don't withstand the test of time very well.

I have used this wire, by cutting a length of it, and "sewing" it through the wire, around the metal to reinforce corners, and at about 1 foot intervals on the top, bottom, and sides.
ww.homedepot.com/p/OOK-18-Gauge-x-100-ft-Galvanized-Steel-Wire-Rope-50131/100125749
Then I finished it off with zip ties, about every 4 inches. The wire reinforcement keeps it secure in case a zip tie breaks, and my wire didn't rust, so it withstood the test of time very well. Check zip ties at least yearly, and after a predator attack.

 

[Wise Woman]

Thank you so very much everyone! I really appreciate your input. We are putting hardware cloth two feet out from the run on all sides to protect from digging, although we have never really had anything dig under before. But better safe than sorry.

Overlapping the hardware cloth. Duh!! Why didn't I think of that. Wire cage clips! Thank you Howard E. I didn't know they made such a thing! LOL!! I did know about zip ties but wasn't sure if they are chew proof or not.

Dlp and Howard, thank you for the 2 wire idea. Husband wants to use something like the 2 x 4 fencing, so I will go check into those you mentioned. I could still run some hardware cloth around the bottom couple feet of the coop. I am actually thinking of putting some corregated metal panels around the bottom anyway to keep out the snow, so perhaps that and the larger heavier gage wire would work just fine.

Thank you everyone for your help. I am so excited to be getting my new coop finally!

 

[Wise Woman]

Hi.

Anything larger than 1/2 in hardware cloth and you WILL have raccoon rip the head off a chicken very easily. At least the bottom 18 inches where the birds may be hanging out and foraging. Anything larger is simply to keep chickens in, but will not work to keep other things out.

I discovered that 1/2 and 1/4 in hardware cloth are not the same thickness or gauge of wire, it is thinner. So I don't know if having the holes smaller is better or having the gauge larger, making it harder to chew through.

Sorry, I don't have the answer for attaching to the metal run. But will note not to store anything under it that shouldn't get wet, because the metal roofs sweats VERY bad and on some cold sunny mornings it is practically raining under my metal run and in my pole barn... no matter HOW much ventilation it has it still drips (usually at places where it touches the frame).

I hope it goes really well for you! That is a long time to wait.

Ya, I understand people need to get paid, but I also can't afford to pay $20/hour and materials aren't cheap either. Even though my set up hasn't been perfected and probably never will be 100%, I still have sooo much fun keeping chickens!

Thanks for the info on the sweating. I did ask the company about that and they said there is a foam insulation I can get at Home Depot to put on the roof with a spray glue. I hope they know what they are talking about because this run will be the only one they have. So it needs to be dry.

It does have a ridge cap and we are in So Cal so it is fairly dry most of the time. We do get snow, but it isn't constantly and the coop faces south so I am hoping it warms up and dries off quickly. If anyone has any experience with this insulation, I would love to hear your experience.

Cheers.