Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Chickin Fairy]

What predators are you trying to keep out in that area?

Mostly racoons, but I've heard weasels can get in through a 1" gap. I don't know if we have them, but I'd rather err on the side of caution.

 

[saysfaa]

You may not need to attach the hardware cloth to the metal roof. Hardware cloth is stiff enough to stand up an inch against the pressure of anything small enough to fit through an inch. If you attach it to wood below and the sides where you have sides (each rafters).

You might make it extra long by an inch or two and bend it along the roof. And/or run a cable through the top of it and/or put stay posts up from the wall halfway between the rafters. I don't think you would need all these reinforcements. Especially since it is at the top of the wall where critters aren't as comfortable working at making a way in.

 

[Chickin Fairy]

Wood pieces cut to fit between each 2"x4" rafter, and that still leaces openings where the metal roof 'waves'. Better, but not enough.
Is this structure up to your winter snow/ ice load? It looks underbuilt to me (not a builder though). Maybe add more framing for support? Ours is up to code for residential, because I'm out there and want it to hold up!
For attaching the hardware cloth and woven wire to the run area, first staple it to the framing, then attach wood strips over both layers to the framing. Run the hardware cloth vertically, overlapping the layers, so no gaps anywhere.
View attachment 4240374
Mary

We put more framing cross-pieces along the underside of the roof and it will hold up, I'll be adding more cross beams inside the structure once the hardware cloth is on, and we're adding 1x2's as framing outside the hardware cloth and on top of the seams like in your picture.

 

[NatJ]

Mostly racoons, but I've heard weasels can get in through a 1" gap. I don't know if we have them, but I'd rather err on the side of caution.

I have read that racoons can reach through a 1" gap, but cannot get their whole body through. If racoons were the only concern, since that gap is at the top not the bottom, I would say to just put the perches far enough away that a racoon cannot reach chickens on the perches.

Obviously that would not protect against weasels or mice or probably rats either.


I have seen wooden strips for sale in stores, with a wavy top surface to match a metal roof. I think the idea is to put the wood strip on first, then attach the roof to it, but in your case something like that could likely be used to block the gap. But that would block air movement, so if you want air to move through that space for ventilation, I would probably go with one of the ideas @saysfaa suggested with hardware cloth.

 

[Chickin Fairy]

You may not need to attach the hardware cloth to the metal roof. Hardware cloth is stiff enough to stand up an inch against the pressure of anything small enough to fit through an inch. If you attach it to wood below and the sides where you have sides (each rafters).

You might make it extra long by an inch or two and bend it along the roof. And/or run a cable through the top of it and/or put stay posts up from the wall halfway between the rafters. I don't think you would need all these reinforcements. Especially since it is at the top of the wall where critters aren't as comfortable working at making a way in.

Was thinking a long these lines as well, to bend it into place to fill the gap and secure it to the wood. Thank you!

 

[Chickin Fairy]

@NatJ thank you!


Since the roof is so tall (8 foot on one end and 10 foot on the other), the roosting bars will be nowhere near these gaps. I plan on making my roosting bars quite low to the ground so I am able to go in and pluck the birds from them in case I need to treat for anything in the night.

The sides will be partially open at the top, so I don't necessarily need this space for ventilation, but I like to have more airflow than less, but I'll take a look to see if those pieces will work. The roof material is actually metal siding, so I'm thinking the wavy roof pieces wouldn't fit the siding.