New Here, and Building a Coop

[billrigsby]

Got the right side and the back all sided up and painted.

Roof fencing covering installed.

Trim installed and moved up against the chicken run.
Still need to open up the chain link so there's access to the run.

Started siding the front and left side, need to build the nesting boxes before I can continue on the left side.

 

[billrigsby]

get your self some 1/2" hardware cloth. Critters will get thru and under the chain link.

And looking at pictures I see almost all of the chain link runs do have the hardware cloth, I'm wondering what kind of Critters you're thinking of?
I know the tree squirrels on the ground squirrels can get into the fence area and into the chain link fence area. But I'm not sure what else I should be concerned with?

 

[billrigsby]

Nesting boxes built and installed.
Siding also installed.
Tomorrow primer and paint and then on to the front.

 

[tripletfeb]

And looking at pictures I see almost all of the chain link runs do have the hardware cloth, I'm wondering what kind of Critters you're thinking of?
I know the tree squirrels on the ground squirrels can get into the fence area and into the chain link fence area. But I'm not sure what else I should be concerned with?

Raccoons, weasels, minks, possums, feral cats, foxes, maybe bear. A lot of people think they have no predators in their area until they get chickens. Everyone loves a chicken dinner. Cover that fence with 1/2" hardware cloth, you won't regret it. But you will regret not doing it

 

[tripletfeb]

Nesting boxes built and installed.
Siding also installed.
Tomorrow primer and paint and then on to the front.

View attachment 4246511

View attachment 4246513

How are you planning on opening that nesting box from the outside? From the top?

 

[billrigsby]

Raccoons, weasels, minks, possums, feral cats, foxes, maybe bear.

Raccoons and foxes yes and the occasional bear, not sure about the rest though never seen or heard of them but that is safe than sorry.

 

[billrigsby]

How are you planning on opening that nesting box from the outside? From the top?

Yes, still need to put a hinged lid on top of that set of boxes.

 

[Three Stents]

And looking at pictures I see almost all of the chain link runs do have the hardware cloth, I'm wondering what kind of Critters you're thinking of?
I know the tree squirrels on the ground squirrels can get into the fence area and into the chain link fence area. But I'm not sure what else I should be concerned with?

Show us a pic of hardware cloth on your chain link

 

[billrigsby]

Show us a pic of hardware cloth on your chain link

Who me? I don't have any yet.
But it sounds like a good idea.

 

[rosemarythyme]

And looking at pictures I see almost all of the chain link runs do have the hardware cloth, I'm wondering what kind of Critters you're thinking of?
I know the tree squirrels on the ground squirrels can get into the fence area and into the chain link fence area. But I'm not sure what else I should be concerned with?

Squirrels, birds, mice, rats, snakes. Raccoons can reach through. If you're doing electric that should help exclude anything bigger though.

My top suggestion would be to swap out the chicken wire on the coop for hardware cloth so that's more secure, to keep out rodents and snakes. You can often get by on a run that's less secure, but coops should be as secure as possible since nighttime incursions are harder to deal with, and chickens are sitting ducks at night.