HC from exterior floor to ground

[DoeAndGander]

the great debate between hubby and I! Do I need hardware cloth (with apron) on this new construction elevated coop from exterior coop floor to exterior ground?? If so, why?

It will have Tyvek and siding

 

[PirateGirl]

Is the underneath of the elevated coop a spot intended for the chickens to hang out?

 

[True Patriot]

If it will be an area occupied by the chickens then it would need something. If it's just open space due to construction on the hill and the floor is solid then no.

 

[PirateGirl]

X2

 

[Folly's place]

If it's open to everyone, your birds and many other critters will love it there, and some will chew into your coop from underneath. Hardware cloth will be good, either with chickens there, or without.
Mary

 

[blackdog043]

I have HWC down from my coop and out to make an apron to keep anything from getting underneath. I don't want critters setting up home underneath my coop, is the main reason and it also keeps the chickens out. This is the back of my coop. If you need HWC, check Amazon and walmart.com, they usually have better prices than big box stores.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Mine's very similar to blackdog043's. It's more to keep the chickens from getting under there (and then I can't get them out) than anything else, due to the fact that my coop is inside the run. I also have it secured with screws and washers as shown.

 

[Acre4Me]

Looks nice! If this is in your run (and secure from intruders) then no need unless you want to keep chickens out.

However, you may want to cover the bottom of the coop, particularly that back corner closest to the ground) with 1/2” x 1/2” HWC to keep small critters like rats and mice from chewing their way in because wood just delays their entry, but metal prevents it as long as the opening are too small for them to get in.

Good luck

 

[aart]

Your question is already answered well.
But just gotta say I love the big roof overhangs,
don't love the windowsill supports<cringe>,
but it's a chicken coop<shrugs>

 

[DoeAndGander]

Thanks guys!!! I’m really hoping to have this close to done this weekend. I will not be using the space as the run at all. My original thought was hardware cloth to keep rodents or anything from shacking up underneath it... But wow is that a lot of HC