Henry's Coop

[mountaintopchicken]

Can a total beginner carpenter ask a question (I just learned to use a drill last year and I'm still working on not bending nails as I hammer them)?

Why did you put the cross bracing at angles instead of straight across? Does that make it stronger?

Looking forward to more pics!

 

[Lu King]

Beautiful chicken coop.

 

[Stumpy]

It looks great, so professional! Thanks for showing the detail of the wire/trench area. I am collecting ideas for my future coop (I hope).

 

[Im4dabirds]

Love your coop. I like the wire trench but have a question. How are you fastening the sides of the wire cloth to the blocks?

 

[Jen4]

Really Nice...

 

[Natty Bumppo]

Quote:
I set those 2x4 braces in the framing on reversing angles like that for strength (they're nailed and gorrila glued). The framing is very stiff. The braces are also flat to the outside of the walls so they won't catch as much dust when the coop is finished.

How are you fastening the sides of the wire cloth to the blocks?

It really didn't need fastening. That is a 1x1 welded wire in the trench and in the vents, really heavy stuff (I think it's 14 guage) a lot heavier than your typical hardware mesh. With the siding on and the trenches filled even a human with gloves cant bend it out of place, so a coon/possum/skunk/coyote sized predator definitely have the strength to get through, and it will last a long long time.

Wouldn't stop smaller predators like snakes rats or mink though, but I also have hardware mesh tacked up under the floor joists

I saw a really big snake when I was working the framing and sure enough he escaped right under the coop. Nearly jumped out of my skin at first because he looked not only big but venemous, but on closer inspection he was one of those tail shaking fakers, maybe a fox snake? About an hour later I saw him again and caught him and gave him to my son to relocate on the other side of the corn field.​

 

[I LOVE COCHINS]

Looks awesome!! Can't wait to see the finished product!! What type of chickens do you have?

 

[Jades Chickens]

I just thought that I would write for the people that see this thread. The finished product is shown here ( https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=172217 ) I just like seeing the finished product and I thought others might like it as well.