Hardware cloth on top of run

[Tahai]

I'm in northern PA. We can get several feet of snow at a time. I built my new coop with a slant roof. Hardware cloth (16 gg, not the standard 19gg) roof. Panels are 4 ft wide, w/ studs every 2 ft.. I covered it with a heavy duty tarp in a dark color. With the wire being a thicker gauge, the pitch being steep enough, and the dark tarp, I have full expectation that snow load will not be of concern. (I chose the thicker wire because my neighbor caught a mink on game camera chewing through the standard gauge HW cloth. Killed 3 of her hens )

 

[aart]

my neighbor caught a mink on game camera chewing through the standard gauge HW cloth

I would like to see a pic of that either happening and/or the hole in the HC.

 

[Tahai]

I would like to see a pic of that either happening and/or the hole in the HC.

I'll see if she'll send it to me. It's shared on our private neighborhood group page.

 

[fuzzi]

I'm in northern PA. We can get several feet of snow at a time. I built my new coop with a slant roof. Hardware cloth (16 gg, not the standard 19gg) roof. Panels are 4 ft wide, w/ studs every 2 ft.. I covered it with a heavy duty tarp in a dark color. With the wire being a thicker gauge, the pitch being steep enough, and the dark tarp, I have full expectation that snow load will not be of concern. (I chose the thicker wire because my neighbor caught a mink on game camera chewing through the standard gauge HW cloth. Killed 3 of her hens )

I don't believe we have mink here, but I will add my vote for hardware cloth covering the entire run. Yes, it was expensive, but how much do those little birds mean to you?

This is what I discovered yesterday, raccoon damage I believe:

Someone was pretty determined...think about the strength in the jaws or fingers that bent the HWC!

 

[aart]

This is what I discovered yesterday, raccoon damage I believe:

This is part of why you need to get the HC tight and taut and well attached.
If they can get a tooth in, it can be torn up.

I'll see if she'll send it to me. It's shared on our private neighborhood group page.

Ask her permission then you could screen shoot it if she can't/won't send copies of the vid and pics.

 

[fuzzi]

This is part of why you need to get the HC tight and taut and well attached.
If they can get a tooth in, it can be torn up.

I thought it was pretty taut, I have it secured all along the bottom frame every six inches with fender washers and long screws.

Guess I need to do some more to tighten it against the cattle panels.

 

[Sally PB]

Guess I need to do some more to tighten it against the cattle panels.

Zip ties, pulled really tight.

 

[fuzzi]

Zip ties, pulled really tight.

That's my plan. I bought wire at the beginning of my original build, but I wasn't able to use it. Even using pliers I just don't have the hand strength to make it tight. So everything is held together with black zip-ties. I plan to replace as needed.

 

[Sally PB]

So everything is held together with black zip-ties.

Half of my run is held together with zip ties. Love those things!

 

[Chicken Chat]

Thanks everybody. I love all the suggestions! I’ve dismantled their big pen and have framed out a lean to style that will have a decent slant, I just have to work out what I’m gonna do about the roof framing the easiest way possible. It’s been a really long time since I helped out doing that