Help with existing coop please!

[Karab819]

We inherited this barn with a coop inside when we purchased our home in January this year. I have made some improvements but would welcome any constructive criticism. The right side is full plywood. The left side and back are the barn walls. The front and top are a little difficult to see but we used black pvc coated chicken wire and stapled the heck out of it to secure it. It is fully enclosed. I am now learning that chicken wire is not always the most secure from predators. The barn itself does have sliding barn doors, not inside the coop area. The coop will have an automatic door to an enclosed run. We are now thinking we need to add another layer of protection to the wire before we bring them out there? Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks in advance!

 

[blackdog043]

All the wire should be 1/2 inch hardware cloth. It's more expensive, but you can sleep better at night. Check Amazon for prices, it's usually cheaper than big box stores.

I moved in December and turned a barn horse stall into a coop. I still don't have pictures, but I made rafters over the stall for a top, covered with HWC and enclosed the sides on the top half with HWC. The bottom half is all wood. I also made anti dig aprons in each stall beside the coop, because the stalls are dirt. The center of the barn is concrete.

One of these days, I'll have some time to get pics of the new coop and run set up. I moved back to PA from NC after 15 years. So all my coop/run pics are from when I was in NC!

 

[Percheron chick]

I had a similar setup. You will enjoy it and will make your chores so much faster and easier. The chicken wire is not adequate for keeping predators out. I also never closed the sliding doors except to block howling winds and blowing snow. It will get super dusty so keeping the big doors open helps. Is the top covered? I had a bobcat crawl between the rafters and header and wipe out 7 hens.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since you already put up chicken wire, just add the hardware cloth over it and attach securely.

 

[Karab819]

All the wire should be 1/2 inch hardware cloth. It's more expensive, but you can sleep better at night. Check Amazon for prices, it's usually cheaper than big box stores.

I moved in December and turned a barn horse stall into a coop. I still don't have pictures, but I made rafters over the stall for a top, covered with HWC and enclosed the sides on the top half with HWC. The bottom half is all wood. I also made anti dig aprons in each stall beside the coop, because the stalls are dirt. The center of the barn is concrete.

One of these days, I'll have some time to get pics of the new coop and run set up. I moved back to PA from NC after 15 years. So all my coop/run pics are from when I was in NC!

Thank you!

 

[Alaskan]

I had a bobcat crawl between the rafters and header and wipe out 7 hens.

 

[Karab819]

I had a similar setup. You will enjoy it and will make your chores so much faster and easier. The chicken wire is not adequate for keeping predators out. I also never closed the sliding doors except to block howling winds and blowing snow. It will get super dusty so keeping the big doors open helps. Is the top covered? I had a bobcat crawl between the rafters and header and wipe out 7 hens.

Yes the top is covered.
Oh no! So sorry to hear that!

 

[Karab819]

Since you already put up chicken wire, just add the hardware cloth over it and attach securely.

Good idea! Thank you!

 

[blackdog043]

Since you already put up chicken wire, just add the hardware cloth over it and attach securely.

Yes attach securely! I used these screws to attach all my HWC. They have a nice head to secure the HWC, when you place it in a corner of a square. Some people use screws with washers, I felt comfortable with these. I used the same screws in NC to attach my HWC and never had a problem. Even though I saw the predators lurking around my coop and run on my game cameras!

This was my coop and run in NC, everything was covered in HWC!

 

[DougVC]

I would second using screws with washers or larger heads instead of staples as most predators (raccoons for sure) can push the staples right out.