Concept Feedback -- "Chicknic Pavilion"

[3KillerBs]

You may or may not remember my Redneck Job bachelor pen: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/upcoming-redneck-job.1506131/

With the need for confining the birds in re: the Avian Flu thing on the east coast, I had an idea for an improved version of day pen to go with my brooder and, on another frame, the Little Monitor Coop.

The green wire was hard enough to wrap around the metal frame that I really don't want to try to enclose the entire thing with hardware cloth, which is even stiffer. So, here's my thought:

Wrap the vertical part of the frame with 1" mesh chicken wire, which is more flexible and forgiving of corners and small enough to keep even little sparrows and finches out.

Wrap the bottom 2 feet with the 1/2" hardware cloth.

Tarp over the top and down the sides a bit to keep bird droppings out.

All held with heavy-duty zipties and the seams in the chicken wire sewn with wire.

I have some more of those dog run panels to make a man-door but am not 100% certain how to fasten it to the brooder.

Thoughts?

I know it won't be proof against digging predators unless I make an apron, but I'm trying to get the idea for the wild-bird-proof containment together first.

 

[Boise-girls]

Would screen cloth (like for screen doors) work for any of it? Obviously not predator proof.

 

[3KillerBs]

Would screen cloth (like for screen doors) work for any of it? Obviously not predator proof.

Probably, but I'd expect it to be harder to work with. I can ziptie the chicken wire to the supports through the mesh but would have to make grommet holes for the screen cloth.

 

[3KillerBs]

I measured the frame this morning. It's just under 10'x10' at the base and about 9'x9' at the top. So a bit shy of 80 feet of the 48" wire to wrap it. Not quite sure how to install the door panel, or how to attach it to the brooder, but I'll figure it out somehow.

Any ideas?

 

[linguini]

I measured the frame this morning. It's just under 10'x10' at the base and about 9'x9' at the top. So a bit shy of 80 feet of the 48" wire to wrap it. Not quite sure how to install the door panel, or how to attach it to the brooder, but I'll figure it out somehow.

Any ideas?

Just a thought - you can also consider 1" deer net for the top parts - easy to work with and can keep the wild birds out.

 

[Boise-girls]

Probably, but I'd expect it to be harder to work with. I can ziptie the chicken wire to the supports through the mesh but would have to make grommet holes for the screen cloth.

Good point!

 

[3KillerBs]

Just a thought - you can also consider 1" deer net for the top parts - easy to work with and can keep the wild birds out.

It would keep the birds out, but their droppings would fall through.

It has to have a solid roof of some kind. I intend to use tarp.

 

[linguini]

It would keep the birds out, but their droppings would fall through.

It has to have a solid roof of some kind. I intend to use tarp.

I meant instead of chicken wire, use the deer net to wrap around - but it's weaker than chicken wire.

 

[3KillerBs]

I meant instead of chicken wire, use the deer net to wrap around - but it's weaker than chicken wire.

I can't make it as predator-proof as would be ideal, but I do want it to be at least resistant to our most common daytime predator -- loose dogs.