Hardware Cloth for Coop

[SourRoses]

The strength is it's virtue -- the power to resist a predator's determination.

We used our inner curves by stomping them flat.

We protected ourselves with leather work gloves.

And we used sturdy framing of at least 2x2 rather than lightweight furring strips that aren't actually rated for structural purposes.

Yes, it's a bit of a bear to work with, but, IMO, worth it.

How did you protect your shoes for the stomping? I sure would have loved to pre-straighten that stuff and considered driving over it but I was worried for the tires.

Once we put our sandwich together with 1x2 on each side it became 2x2.
We were trying to keep it lightweight to avoid straining the hinges over time as we used the doors on a 2nd level brooder. The bottom brooder we used affixed dog panels as doors with 1/4 inch cloth and that turned out better.

 

[3KillerBs]

How did you protect your shoes for the stomping?

We wore work boots. My rubber muck boots -- sturdy men's boots, not the cute women's boots -- are fabulously protective.

Once we put our sandwich together with 1x2 on each side it became 2x2.

That doesn't have the same structural strength. Those 1x2's are low-grade wood meant only to use as furring strips for hanging pictures, etc.

 

[762]

Reviving this thread a bit...for coop windows and door in an elevated coop, is 1" sufficient? Found some on clearance (HALF off). Minimum distance from window sill to ground is like 4', however, not far from either front window is the chicken door, which will obviously have a plank going up to it.

We definitely have black snakes in the area, which is my main concern. The roost bars will be far enough away that even if a raccoon got up there, they wouldn't be able to reach anything. Under the coop and run (anything ground level) will have 1/2", no doubt.

Here's a Sketchup pic of the front elevation...it's framed out already but it's raining, so...

 

[Iluveggers]

A suggestion for putting it up. We stapled first, and then screwed. The screws were so much easier to put in once it was secured with the staples. Holding it steady for screws would be a PITA otherwise!

 

[aart]

Reviving this thread a bit...for coop windows and door in an elevated coop, is 1" sufficient? Found some on clearance (HALF off). Minimum distance from window sill to ground is like 4', however, not far from either front window is the chicken door, which will obviously have a plank going up to it.

We definitely have black snakes in the area, which is my main concern. The roost bars will be far enough away that even if a raccoon got up there, they wouldn't be able to reach anything. Under the coop and run (anything ground level) will have 1/2", no doubt.

Proooobably.
Unless your black snakes are large(long) and hungry, they can climb rather efficiently and would may be able to fit thru 1".

 

[3KillerBs]

Reviving this thread a bit...for coop windows and door in an elevated coop, is 1" sufficient? Found some on clearance (HALF off). Minimum distance from window sill to ground is like 4', however, not far from either front window is the chicken door, which will obviously have a plank going up to it.

We definitely have black snakes in the area, which is my main concern. The roost bars will be far enough away that even if a raccoon got up there, they wouldn't be able to reach anything. Under the coop and run (anything ground level) will have 1/2", no doubt.

Here's a Sketchup pic of the front elevation...it's framed out already but it's raining, so...

Do you have weasels? Are mice an issue for you?

IIRC, the main predator/pest issues with 1" wire are snakes, weasels, rodents, and grabbing raccoons.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Unless your black snakes are large(long) and hungry, they can climb rather efficiently and would may be able to fit thru 1".

Aart, I had a black rat snake big enough to eat a chick go through 1" welded wire "hardware" cloth to get inside my brooder built in the coop. If I remember right it was about 4 to 5 feet long. It could not get back out of the brooder after it ate the chick. It probably got into the coop when I had the pop door open during the day.

@762 most things that can get through 1" openings can climb really well. Snakes can get up to that 4' high location, I've seen them on the side of my coop higher than that.

 

[3KillerBs]

It probably got into the coop when I had the pop door open during the day.

@762 most things that can get through 1" openings can climb really well. Snakes can get up to that 4' high location, I've seen them on the side of my coop higher than that.

I concur. I think that was how the snakes were getting into my coop this summer as well.

But I did take one off the outside wall from shoulder height as it was trying to find a crack in the nestbox door.

 

[raingarden]

I've never seen one inch hardware cloth. We usually call the one inch stuff "welded wire". Yeah, I know.... trivial.

 

[Ridgerunner]

That's why I put hardware in parenthesis. It's made the same and looks the same but I've yet to see any 1" labeled as hardware cloth. I was beat up on here once worse than you did for calling it hardware cloth. I think the majority of people on here know what you are talking about if you call it 1" hardware cloth but technically that is wrong.