Economical way to wire large space.

[jjaazzy]

Hey all, I purchased a home that had a large 20x20 gazebo and it has seen better days...... But it will make an awesome chicken coop. Can I use the better wire around the bottom area walls 1/2 x 1 or did I use 1 x 2 I can't remember now what ever it was it was the good stuff that raccoons can't tear through. That would be a roll that is 2 or 3 feet wide, Can I used that around the bottom area and then go to something larger for the upper part....... like 2x4 red wire horse fencing or larger? I'm guessing I can't go larger cause I read somewhere Opossums could be a predator as well. Thanks!

 

[Sonya9]

No idea if a wire coop would work temp wise, but when they are sleeping you must protect against a predator reaching through the wire and pulling their heads off.

Predators don't have to have the whole bird, at night they will happily grab bird parts for a snack, that means half inch hardware cloth OR solid wood around the roosting poles.

 

[jjaazzy]

Thanks Very much Sonya for helping out. Yes I was afraid of that but was thinking that I could put plywood panels up to block a reaching in hand around where the roost post connect to the sides..... I am afraid of them reaching in..........If I do the bottom with a better wire and the top with the 2 x 4 and protect the areas where a bird might sit against the sides do you think that will work? is 12.5 gauge strong enough? that is what the horse fencing is?

 

[Sonya9]

What type of predators do you have in your area? What state are you in?

Are you going to keep full sized chickens or will you also have bantams?

 

[jjaazzy]

I am in south fla, i am very close to a park so i know racoons are here and i would imagine opossum and eguana which if they got in would probably steal eggs. Snakes but dont know what types. Cant think of any other coop predators. .... i could also use chain link on top part too