- Apr 13, 2014
- 13
- 3
- 31
Hello all! I'm preparing to move my two month old chicks and ducks to their outside home. I've worked extensively on an old (I mean OLD) shed, converting it into a coop with a secure, covered run (lots of dogs, raccoons, foxes, and snakes in the area). Because I've been doing it by myself on a limited budget I am improvising a lot. My main questions are:
1)Should I run a few inches of hardware cloth along the floor to discourage predators from tearing or slipping through the older wood on the outside? I've filled every hole I can find with bug repelling foam sealant. See pictures.

2)How can I secure my doors? Because of the age of the building and my limited funds, my $20 screen doors are not flush with the doorways. How can I keep things out? Is their a particular hinge or lock I should buy? I'm afraid if I put hardware cloth in the doorways my kids may get cut by it, etc. I am putting 1/4 hardware cloth on the doors and run. I really need the ventilation for our hot and humid Tennessee summers.
Thank you so much, and any other tips are appreciated!


1)Should I run a few inches of hardware cloth along the floor to discourage predators from tearing or slipping through the older wood on the outside? I've filled every hole I can find with bug repelling foam sealant. See pictures.
2)How can I secure my doors? Because of the age of the building and my limited funds, my $20 screen doors are not flush with the doorways. How can I keep things out? Is their a particular hinge or lock I should buy? I'm afraid if I put hardware cloth in the doorways my kids may get cut by it, etc. I am putting 1/4 hardware cloth on the doors and run. I really need the ventilation for our hot and humid Tennessee summers.
Thank you so much, and any other tips are appreciated!