Attaching hardware cloth to run. Inside or outside?

[Sefirothe]

We are just starting our run build. The question came up of attaching the hardware cloth to the lumber on the inside or the outside of the run. What did you do on your run if you built with lumber framing and stapled hardware cloth on?

And why did you pick one over the other?

 

[Sefirothe]

I made the point of a predator will likely try to push in so stapled to the outside will be stronger.

Dad thinks stapled to the inside will look nicer.

I started pushing for stapled to the outside with the edges covered by furring strips. He wants to know why I'm spending so much money on chickens.

 

[Smokerbill]

I made the point of a predator will likely try to push in so stapled to the outside will be stronger.

Dad thinks stapled to the inside will look nicer.

I started pushing for stapled to the outside with the edges covered by furring strips. He wants to know why I'm spending so much money on chickens.

That's what I did. Stapled the hardware cloth on the outside of the studs, with furring strips stapled on .

 

[rosemarythyme]

Outside because predators are more likely to push instead of pull to get in. Also this makes it easier in most set ups to angle the bottom out to form an apron around the entire perimeter, to prevent dig ins.

And you're spending money to protect the chickens so you don't spend money needing to buy new chickens and upgrade later.

 

[aart]

I guess it depends on how your run is built and if you also have heavy wire on it.
Mine is made of 2x4 WW so I added the HC on the inside to prevent chicks run litter build up from escaping.

Staples: make sure you use pneumatically driven staples not arrow50 type staples.

 

[igorsMistress]

Outside because you can wrap the wire around which gives the framework more stability. Also, if anything tries to push through it’s typically harder to tear out staples.

 

[My Very First 6 Chickens]

We are just starting our run build. The question came up of attaching the hardware cloth to the lumber on the inside or the outside of the run. What did you do on your run if you built with lumber framing and stapled hardware cloth on?

And why did you pick one over the other?

Did my first coop on the inside. Had a hen rip 75% of her comb off. Second coop will be inside as well, but, we'll put trim over all the sharp edges. Aesthetically, inside looks nicer tho. Good luck!

 

[Sefirothe]

I used way too many staples and screws with washers too. She recovered. I kept her inside for about a week to prevent infection. Look at that comb. This pic was last week after she ripped her toe nail off. View attachment 3676986

Glad she survived, but sounds a bit accident prone!!

I'm about 90% certain we are now going with wire attached to the outside and will use furring strips.

Yay. More staining wood in my future. I hate painting/staining. Sigh.

The run will be safe and look pretty at least.

 

[PaigeWells]

I made the point of a predator will likely try to push in so stapled to the outside will be stronger.

Dad thinks stapled to the inside will look nicer.

I started pushing for stapled to the outside with the edges covered by furring strips. He wants to know why I'm spending so much money on chickens.

My hubby was ok but not thrilled with my wanting to convert a good looking shed into a chicken fort/palace. He specifically said he “didn’t want it to look like the Clampetts live there”. So I took the time to space out my washers (to hold the hardware cloth down) evenly and it looks pretty nice. I also pre- stained the lumber to match the shed so it wouldn’t be noticeable. I think it looks nice (so do my chickens). There was also some mention of my “million dollar chicken house” but I pointed out that doing it right the first time ensures years of use and not having to fix things later (especially once it’s occupied). I did buy 1/4” hardware cloth and bury it plus extend it out. 2 years later I haven’t lost a chicken that was locked inside.

 

[arizona_chicken_noob]

Consider a predator pushing on it from the outside, you will want to attach the cloth on the outside so that it would strain the structure of your coop too and be stronger. Otherwise you are just relying on staples to hold them back.