I found what I think is a secure way of expanding the size of a coop or run slightly. I was putting the hardware cloth on the ceiling of my coop and wanted to put my roosts as close to the ceiling as possible. Using this technique, I was able to raise the roost up another 4 inches while giving the chickens the same amount of headroom. It doesn't sound like a lot but I was really trying to squeeze out as much room as possible. It also let me raise the ceiling of my run by 4 inches which was close to head bumping height previously.
When cutting the hardware cloth, I used what I called "nippers" to cut the cloth but don't know whats their real name. It does take a while to cut the cloth with them but you get a really good close cut with no extra sharp edges left over. I wanted it to bump-out 4" so I counted out 9 of the 1/2" squares (4" + 1/2" for attaching it) from the corner and then cut a zig-zag pattern to that square. I practiced with a few pieces of scrap cloth before I got it right.
Next, fold the two triangles 90 degrees and then fold both sides 90 degrees at the 9th square (hopefully that makes sense).
Here's the corner from inside the coop.
And from outside the coop above the people door.
When cutting the hardware cloth, I used what I called "nippers" to cut the cloth but don't know whats their real name. It does take a while to cut the cloth with them but you get a really good close cut with no extra sharp edges left over. I wanted it to bump-out 4" so I counted out 9 of the 1/2" squares (4" + 1/2" for attaching it) from the corner and then cut a zig-zag pattern to that square. I practiced with a few pieces of scrap cloth before I got it right.
Next, fold the two triangles 90 degrees and then fold both sides 90 degrees at the 9th square (hopefully that makes sense).
Here's the corner from inside the coop.
And from outside the coop above the people door.
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