New Coop, please help! Sharp edges and some holes!

[Fowl_Language_]

Hello chicken Friends! I just got our new coop delivered! It’s beautiful, made by a local guy in my area. I am concerned about some chicken wire around the corners being very sharp, and holes on the top and bottom.

I just need some guidance on what to use to cover up the corners so myself, the chickens and my kids don’t get cut on it, and what could I use to block the holes so predators can’t get in. (I don’t care about snakes getting in and I welcome them) There are also screws on the inside from the roof panels, but not sure if they will be a problem? I will attach photos! The first one is just a full photo of it because I’m sooo excited . Thank you all being being so kind and welcoming to the new members! I really appreciate it.

 

[nuthatched]

It's really cute, but there's several things that need addressed.
The chicken wire should be replaced with hardware cloth or have another layer of 2x1 wire. You can sandwich the corners with furring strips to cover the wire.
The door can be made bigger to cover the top gap, which coons might be able to get through. Or put a 1x3 over the edges of the door. Like a frame on a barn door, so it's over the gaps.
You also could use a predator apron so nothing digs under.
You can take bolt cutters to the screws poking through.

 

[Fowl_Language_]

It's really cute, but there's several things that need addressed.
The chicken wire should be replaced with hardware cloth or have another layer of 2x1 wire. You can sandwich the corners with furring strips to cover the wire.
The door can be made bigger to cover the top gap, which coons might be able to get through. Or put a 1x3 over the edges of the door. Like a frame on a barn door, so it's over the gaps.
You also could use a predator apron so nothing digs under.
You can take bolt cutters to the screws poking through.

Thank you. May I ask why I would need another layer of chicken wire? Is it just for extra protection? I’m all new to this!

 

[Matejka]

Chicken wire stops chickens. Any OTHER animal can chew, rip thru it. Hardware cloth or 1x2 weldwd witre is stronger and stops most animals/predators. All animals like chicken dinner.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Thank you. May I ask why I would need another layer of chicken wire? Is it just for extra protection? I’m all new to this!

Chicken wire basically only keeps chickens contained. It doesn’t keep the “bad guys” out - larger predators like raccoons can rip through it, and 1 inch holes will let in the smaller ones, like snakes that will eat your eggs and baby/young chickens. Or minks/weasels even, which can kill an adult.

To keep the predators out, you ideally use 1/2 inch or smaller hardware cloth OR some people make due with a larger strong fence with 1x2 inch holes with chicken wire over top. But that isn’t as good, so I would recommend using hardware cloth for at least the bottom half of the wall.

You also have to address digging predators (rats, opossums, etc) by either digging a trench under your coop and having the hardware cloth go underground or laying a couple feet of it around the coop and attaching it to the ground with tent stakes or similar (or place rocks over top). And it should be attached to the edge of the coop.

If you stay with chicken wire for the run, just be aware it is a risk and you will likely lose some chickens at some point. And I would at a minimum use hardware cloth to secure the coop part for sleeping and always lock them in it at dark. During the day you are less likely to have issues - mostly hawks and dogs in the daylight.

I hope that helps? It is a beautiful build!!!

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Oh last thing - I recommend a double latch on your nesting boxes and exterior doors to the sleeping area, since some racoons can figure out a simple gate latch. Or use a carabiner to “lock” the latch.

And kind of the opposite, make sure you can OPEN the door to the run so you don’t lock yourself inside by accident. I mayyyyyyy have done that once. Many people rig up a way to pull the latch open using a piece of string or wire that runs to the inside. But again, make sure you have a way to lock thay so a raccoon doesn't unlock your door.

 

[nuthatched]

Thank you. May I ask why I would need another layer of chicken wire? Is it just for extra protection? I’m all new to this!

No, not chicken wire, hardware cloth or a layer of 1x2 wire. Like other posters said, chicken Wire doesn't keep out predators.

 

[Fowl_Language_]

Chicken wire stops chickens. Any OTHER animal can chew, rip thru it. Hardware cloth or 1x2 weldwd witre is stronger and stops most animals/predators. All animals like chicken dinner.

Thank you, that makes sense!

 

[FunClucks]

Thank you. May I ask why I would need another layer of chicken wire? Is it just for extra protection? I’m all new to this!

Most predators I can think of will go through that chicken wire like it isn't even there. It might keep out hawks, and that's about it. Also, it's secured to the wood with staples - a raccoon or dog will rip those right out. When you secure 1/2" 19 gage hardware cloth over every open air surface (my recommendation for a top level security coop - basically everywhere your chicken wire is now), use radial washers and screws to secure the hardware cloth to the wood. Or metal zip ties can work if they're tight to the wood or another surface. Any crack with a dimension larger than half an inch can let in predators.

For the poky or sharp parts, consider wrapping them with housewrap or old feed bags - it's the same material, super durable, and a couple thicknesses can help take the pokiness out. I've also seen folks split a garden hose lengthwise, and shove it onto sharp metal roof panel overhang. Foam is out because the chickens will eat it. They will also eat caulk if they can get to it. Rubber stall mats or similar type hard rubber can be used in some areas if needed.

To be fair, if you have a livestock guardian dog, or especially an electric fence wire running around outside the coop, that will keep predators away also, it would increase your protection if you had hotwire and then added 1"x2" welded wire everywhere the chicken wire is currently, like the previous poster said, and keep out the larger predators.

I'd definitely add at least a 1/2" hardware cloth apron (2 ft or more wide), and hardware cloth a few feet up the sides. In addition to addressing the gaps at the doors, as previous poster said. This would give you the basis of a mid-level security coop.

Are these livestock or pets? How strongly must you keep them safe? Must they be absolutely top level safe - can't tolerate any predator losses at all, or are you willing to tolerate the possibility of a few or more losses?

Weigh how okay you are with predator loss vs. the cost to create a mid-level or top-level protection coop, and then you'll know what to do. Everyone's answer is different - there's no one right answer here. Once you pick your level of comfort with predator loss, we can help you meet that. The predator load in your area and types of predators in your area also may influence your answer here, and once you get chickens, you may find predators coming around you never knew were in your area. Many of us have game cameras to keep tabs on things when we're not around.

 

[FunClucks]

In the Articles section, there's a number of coop builds that might prove helpful to you.

Also, your coop / run is DARLING!!! I am totally jealous of how cute it is, and I love your metal roof! My coops/runs are definitely not that cute!