Hardware question

[JFL1950]

Before you srew in the screws you might want to dill a hole smaller then the screw that way when you screw in the screws it won't crack the wood.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Could a delivery person, meter reader, visitor or child accidentally leave a gate open? What can jump your fence, or dig under? Dogs? Coyote or fox? All will hunt in the day. A dog can definitely rip apart chicken wire. We have several dogs and it hasn't kept raccoons our of our yards. Well, it does if they see the dogs are out in the yard at the time.

Raccoons have been known to occasionally hunt in the daytime, even though they usually prefer to hunt at night.

Besides safety issues, hardware cloth gives additional stability and strength to the tractor, when using lighter wood. I've made cages out of it, without using any framing material, as long as they aren't so large that the top starts to sag. Tractors get moved a lot, so they take more strain than a permanent structure.

If you can afford the hardware cloth, I'd use that.

 

[domromer]

Quote:
You have some good points. I guess I'll check how much more the hardware cloth will cost.

 

[barg]

From reading other threads on this forum, I have learned that chicken wire in some parts of the country, is not the same as in other parts.
Depending on where you live and how strong it is there, you can use it, if its the strong stuff.
Around here, and I think in the majority of places, its flimsy bendable crap.
Looks the same, isn't the same.

 

[silkiechicken]

I used chicken wire.... with 2 inch holes... didn't have a problem until the wire rusted and fell apart....

I would go with making the frame out of a heavier material, and the 1x2's for everything else. Personally I use 1x4's and 2x3's to keep things light.

 

[suburbanhomesteader]

Quote:
I have had good luck using quality 2x2s, and using 6" right-triangle plywood gussets at the corners. It is aMAZing how much strength they add to the structure, for just a few ounces a piece.

 

[Bubba]

Yea don't do what I did, make a beautiful Portable (my a$$) coup with sheets of 1/4 inch plywood and 2x4s. I tend to over build everything. So it weighs at least 100lbs if not 200lbs. Dont have a scale that fits it. It stands 6ft tall 6ft long and 3ft wide.

Bubba

 

[foxtrapper]

Build light. There's no reason to make the unit heavy without a point to having the weight and strength.

Predrill your screw holes to keep the wood from splitting.

2x2's are wonderfull building pieces for mobil coops. Strong enough to do the job with minimal weight.

 

[allen wranch]

A determined dog/coyote can use its weight to break 2x2s and tear through chicken wire. They can also turn over a light weight tractor.