Coop Roofing Opinions

[NormansGal44]

I am tempted to use 2" x 4" welded wire fencing for a coop roof, two layers going opposite directions. Everything else will be Hardware Cloth with a curtain of 2" x 4" welded wire going out at least a foot. We also will be doing some sort of cement footing to prevent digging. Do you think the welded wire fencing would be ok to use on top? It will be a 6' tall coop so I don't think reaching in will be a problem? Using the welded wire fencing will allow me to add another eight square feet to the coop which would be nice but they would have plenty of space otherwise.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ChooksinChoppers]

Is the coop is under some kind of cover already? If so the wire would be fine and allow lots of ventilation. Good idea on the doubling up of it too.

 

[NormansGal44]

Maybe eventually but it isn't part of the immediate plan. I would have one or two 2" x 4"s on the roof to hold down the fencing.

 

[ChooksinChoppers]

Then you will have lots of wet mouldy bedding and unhappy/sick chickens when it rains

 

[NormansGal44]

Their hen house will be completely enclosed (minus a door) and there will be covered run space under the hen house.

 

[ChooksinChoppers]

Quote:
Ahhh! I see the problem.....You first said "coop" which ito us is the hen house. When you meant the run?

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
What is the purpose for using two layers going opposite directions. The only thing it will do is keep out baby possums or baby raccoons IF you wire the two layers together at many many points throughout. But, baby possums and baby raccoons are not generally big threats. What you describe won't keep out sparrows (use chickenwire or deer netting added to the 2x4 mesh if you want to do that); and it is no *better* for keeping out big things like adult raccoons than a single layer of 2x4 wire would be.

So I would suggest maybe saving your money and using only the one layer. Make sure it is VERY WELL SUPPORTED by lumber, rafter-style or whatever, as the weight of several adult raccoons bouncin' up and down on a roof is a considerable strain on seams and so forth.

Everything else will be Hardware Cloth with a curtain of 2" x 4" welded wire going out at least a foot.

I would suggest your apron be wider than that, as just 12" will not reliably stop a lot of predators. It is better than nothing of course; but 2' or more is even BETTER, at not much more total cost.

We also will be doing some sort of cement footing to prevent digging

Rely on your apron for that. The only footing that would really do a good job vs diggers would have to be at least 18" deep, adn that gets to be not just spendy but a heckuva lot of WORK. If you want to keep rats out as well, that requires a full slab not just a footing to the fence, and that's even spendier. Really, a 2-3' apron, properly configured, will keep out pretty much anything digging, except rats which quite frankly it's nearly impossible to keep out no matter what.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[NormansGal44]

Thank you for your help. I'm sorry with mixing up "coop", "hen house" & "run". I'm still figuring this whole thing out.

I'm a "New Egg".

So are "hen house" and "coop" interchangeable and the "run" refers to the area that is fenced in? I'm debating covering the run since we receive a LOT of rain here but they'll have the area under the hen house.

I read somewhere that the smaller the wire opening, the harder it would be for raccoons to get their teeth in and tear it open. That's what I was after. Our families all live a long ways away so whenever we go and visit, we are gone for two weeks. The chickens won't be closed in their hen house at night (door closed) while we're gone but hopefully they'll still go in it. That is why I was wondering about the double wire. There will be at least two supports on top to make sure the roof is good and secure.

I don't want to take any chances.

Thanks for your advice. I really appreciate it!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Well, that is how the words are mostly used on this forum; but it is not the only system of using the terms, and there are certainly a lot of OTHER people in the world who have a long history of using the terms differently. No one set of definitions is engraved on stone tablets or anything, so it is not like one way is right and the others wrong; just, this is what most people here mean. I figure, when in doubt, just explain what's being referred to in a little more detail, and that way everyone can translate into their own preferred terms LOL

Our families all live a long ways away so whenever we go and visit, we are gone for two weeks. The chickens won't be closed in their hen house at night (door closed) while we're gone but hopefully they'll still go in it. That is why I was wondering about the double wire.

Ah. I see. Hm. (you will be having someone tend the chickens daily, yes, just not coming out *twice* to shut them in and let them out?)

The ideal situation would be TO have someone both close them in and let them out -- doesn't have to be the same person for both tasks. The second best situation would be to get them really strongly trained to go into the coop and buy an auto door opener (although unfortunately they are a little spendy).

If you HAVE to leave the popdoor open for two weeks at a time, I would be real leery of depending only on two layers of 2x4 wire. I mean, it might go okay but there are enough ways to have problems....

If you ARE going to do that, make sure you spend extra to get the absolute best quality mesh you can -- with extremely sound welds -- and wire the two layers together really thoroughly in a bazillion places so that coons cannot easily pull one up above the other to start messin'.

And for sure I would recommend a wiiiide apron, and a really securely built coop.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​