Design - Predators - Thoughts

[clarkbre]

Working on my coop and want some of your thoughts on design and rodent control.

The run will be separate and the coop design will be more like a small shed. The floor is framed in 2x4 with 3/4" CDX for the floor. The walls will be framed with 2x3's and sided with T1-11 that will extend down and attach to the bottom of the 2x4 floor framing. With that, do I need to add any 1/2" metal mesh behind the T1-11 or anything? The main door will shut tight with wood stops and the windows will be hinged and used as vents. I will be putting the 1/2" metal mesh behind the windows as screens to prevent rodents from getting in there. My plan is to also use an automated chicken door to keep them in once they roost.

Here are a few pics of the current progress. Trying to make it secure.

Basic design:

Floor framing:

Floor set on blocks with 3/4 plywood nailed down:

Framed wall. T1-11 will cover wall, plywood floor and pressure treated 2x4:

For reference, this was the coop and run at our old house.

 

[Aunt Tat]

What a WONDERFUL project for your kids to help with!!! They'll have a vested interest of caring for the chickens that will enrich their lives!

 

[Ridgerunner]

The walls will be framed with 2x3's and sided with T1-11 that will extend down and attach to the bottom of the 2x4 floor framing. With that, do I need to add any 1/2" metal mesh behind the T1-11 or anything

No. If the T1-11 is securely attached it will stop predators. I don't see any benefit to adding wire mesh. I used T1-11 as paneling to build my coop.

 

[clarkbre]

What a WONDERFUL project for your kids to help with!!! They'll have a vested interest of caring for the chickens that will enrich their lives!

Thank you. We moved over the summer and the buyers of our home wrote the coop into the contract. The kiddos were too young to remember the first build so it's been very fun having them pound nails and asking for their opinions on design. They love it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I sort of did that with my boys. I had them build me a shed for the lawn mower and yard stuff. It was a prefab 6x8 with everything precut but they had to read the drawings and do everything themselves, even put on the shingle roof. I provided the foundation. It did not leak.

When they were in boy scouts they'd help other scouts with their eagle projects. They could swing a hammer with one hand with confidence. That really impressed the other boys, most needed two hands to swing a hammer. One of my rules was that if they are swinging the hammer their fingers are the ones in the line of fire.

 

[aart]

Might want anti-dig aprons around the coop.....
.......to keep chickens from getting under the floor,
as well as other critters who might like to live there.
1/2" HC should be used if rodents are a possibility.
Good examples of anti-dig apron installation.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wire-around-coop.1110498/#post-17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[clarkbre]

Here are a few update pics of the build. We prefabricated the walls by framing and siding them in the garage and then set them in place.
Framed side walls:

3 of the 4 walls set:

Walls set and coop painted Leisure Blue:

 

[clarkbre]

Added the framing for the roof today. The coop is coming together nicely.

 

[aart]

Added the framing for the roof today.

Remove/leave these pieces out, for ventilation.
Nice roof overhangs!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Looking good! I love the fun color.