hard ware cloth unsupported

[gutfiddle]

good day fellow chicken farmers! been almost 15 years since i've had chickens....planning on building a new coop for a dozen new recruits. I'm in central florida so thinking of an open design appx 10'x10' w/ hardware cloth on the bottom half and chicken wire on the top. Can i get away with one 4x4 post at each corner and span 10ft w/ the hardware cloth or do i need an additional post midspan?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Interesting question. I've never tried to stretch hardware cloth or chicken wire that far. I'm not sure you could stretch it that far to keep it stable without some kind of top rail to stabilize it. It's not just sagging, I think it might try to lay over. If I were doing it I'd plan on at least a T-post midspan to stabilize it. You can always try and see what it looks like and add a support if you need it.

 

[AinaWGSD]

I would think it would need more support than just the 4 corner posts.

I would skip the chicken wire altogether, especially if this is a coop and not just a run attached to a secure coop. Most predators can tear right through chicken wire like butter, it's really only good at containing chickens.

 

[perkolator]

With a 10ft expanse, you'll at least want to back the HC with a stronger fencing material. Something like welded wire ag fencing, chain link, etc. The chicken wire won't be ideal for backing, as it's "stretchy" and unstable without support.

My own run extension utilizes ~10ft spacing between vertical supports, but I'm using T-posts and have thick 2x2 woven wire fencing as the structural backing. I used chicken wire for my overhead protection from things that could get over the top of the fence.

 

[gutfiddle]

thanks for the replies! i'll put additional 4x4 vertical posts 5' on center and run hardware cloth from top to bottom to keep my girls safe.

 

[FunClucks]

I only ever use chicken wire to partition the inside of a totally enclosed with hardware cloth space.

 

[aart]

thanks for the replies! i'll put additional 4x4 vertical posts 5' on center and run hardware cloth from top to bottom to keep my girls safe.

Are you going to use 6' wide HC?
Otherwise I would space the posts to match the HC width.

Also would recommend not using chicken wire.

 

[gutfiddle]

Are you going to use 6' wide HC?
Otherwise I would space the posts to match the HC width.

Also would recommend not using chicken wire.

yes, 6' tall wire for 6' tall coop.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you are going to be inside it, coop or run, I'd suggest something you can stand up in and work in without bending over. It's just so much more pleasant. If it has a solid roof I'd slope it so rainwater runs off to a specific side to where it does not flow back into the coop or run. Sloping the roof could give you that extra height.

 

[Toothpick]

I've completely gone away from chicken wire. My main run off the coop is now 2x4 welded wire secured with 4x4 posts concreted in the ground every 6ft or 8ft...I can't remember how far I spaced them. But it's maybe 14x20. Then I use electric poultry netting to extend the run about 50ft square.

I used chicken wire for years and got fed up with it. Flimsy, worthless for predators, breaks easy, pain in the rear to stretch and put up...bleh.

Welded wire is a much better choice but even that has its drawbacks. I would add a post every 5ft if you can.