Oh No! We used the wrong staples. They are popping out all over.

[Peggy O]

We have not let the girls into the run yet, I was stapling where the two rows of welded fencing meet and I noticed there were staples on the ground. My other 1/2 used 5/16 staples and they were OK when the walls were laying on the ground, but we stood the run up and screwed it together today, and it's just not holding. I think he attached the wire too loose. Crud. I have to crawl around and find every single staple so when we let the chickens out they won't eat them. I feel like crying. We were so close to finishing. Now we are taking the wire off, re-stretching and re-stapling the entire thing.

Has anyone else had this happen? Any tips? I'm so discouraged. Other 1/2 just left to go buy the longest staples that will fit the gun.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I recommend the ones that are barbed. You can use bailing wire to help hold the fencing in place while you put in the humongous staples.
I think you may want to get a garage floor magnet to sweep the area with. Mine has been invaluable.
I think we got ours at Home Depot. It is pretty much a wide magnet on a stick.

By the way ours did the same thing and yes it stinks to have to redo something you worked so hard at.

 

[tridentk9]

A magnet might help you find the runaway staples.

 

[vehve]

Screws and washers would be a stronger solution for securing the net. Staples tend to be pretty flimsy, a 5 pound chicken flying into the net might make them come undone. Staples are practical for holding the net up while you fasten it though.

*Edit* Closer inspection of your picture shows that you put the net on the inside, so the chickens might not loosen it that much, but anything bigger than a squirrel pushing against that net from the outside could probably get in unless you have something sturdier than staples holding the net in place.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

No need to be discouraged or feel like crying Peggy. It'll take a whole 20 minutes to restaple the wire.
Personally I'd use 1" hand drive galvanized fence staples.

 

[Boerbok]

Use cable straps work wonders I use it for everything and it holds.

 

[aart]

Ditto on the magnet!

As long as you are redoing it, I'd put the fencing on the outside to prevent push ins.

And absolutely use screws and washers, much more secure, easier to install and you can remove them easily if necessary.
But then I hate hammering staples and use screws for everything in case I want to change something or reuse materials.

Mistakes are how we learn, kick yourself once(or twice) then laugh and move on.
'People who don't make mistakes, aren't doing anything'.
'It's not how bad you foul it up, it's how well you fix what you fouled up'.

That's a nice little run!

 

[Peggy O]

Thanks guys. I bought three pounds of 1 1/2 inch galvanized U shaped fence staple-nails this morning, and we are re doing it now. I weigh almost 200 pounds and I cannot pull the wire off. We are using them every 6 inches. Our reasoning for placing the wire inside was for digging creatures, who would be pulling forward? I dunno, seemed like a good idea. This is a day only pen, and everyone will be in the house (skirted with hardware cloth screwed under a 2x4 frame) at night. I mentioned in another thread our two close neighbors have more chickens that are way less protected, so I feel like we're OK without flipping the wire. But I wish we would have thought about that beforehand. Live and learn. This is our first time building anything. It's taking forever. We still have to skirt the whole run too. Not looking forward to digging, it's really humid and in the 80"s today. I am totally getting a roofer magnet next time we go to town (We are far out from Home Depot)....an excellent ideer

Thanks so much!

 

[vehve]

Thanks guys. I bought three pounds of 1 1/2 inch galvanized U shaped fence staple-nails this morning, and we are re doing it now. I weigh almost 200 pounds and I cannot pull the wire off. We are using them every 6 inches. Our reasoning for placing the wire inside was for digging creatures, who would be pulling forward? I dunno, seemed like a good idea. This is a day only pen, and everyone will be in the house (skirted with hardware cloth screwed under a 2x4 frame) at night. I mentioned in another thread our two close neighbors have more chickens that are way less protected, so I feel like we're OK without flipping the wire. But I wish we would have thought about that beforehand. Live and learn. This is our first time building anything. It's taking forever. We still have to skirt the whole run too. Not looking forward to digging, it's really humid and in the 80"s today. I am totally getting a roofer magnet next time we go to town (We are far out from Home Depot)....an excellent ideer

Thanks so much!

If the ground is really hard, try wetting it a bit before. Usually makes digging easier.

 

[LindaB220]

Thanks guys. I bought three pounds of 1 1/2 inch galvanized U shaped fence staple-nails this morning, and we are re doing it now. I weigh almost 200 pounds and I cannot pull the wire off. We are using them every 6 inches. Our reasoning for placing the wire inside was for digging creatures, who would be pulling forward? I dunno, seemed like a good idea. This is a day only pen, and everyone will be in the house (skirted with hardware cloth screwed under a 2x4 frame) at night. I mentioned in another thread our two close neighbors have more chickens that are way less protected, so I feel like we're OK without flipping the wire. But I wish we would have thought about that beforehand. Live and learn. This is our first time building anything. It's taking forever. We still have to skirt the whole run too. Not looking forward to digging, it's really humid and in the 80"s today. I am totally getting a roofer magnet next time we go to town (We are far out from Home Depot)....an excellent ideer

Thanks so much!

My ground is so hard that I can't dig. I lay out 2" x 4" welded wire about 2 or so feet out and cover with some rocks or dirt. Y'all sound like you have got it going on. Fine job. I have an 8' x 12' dog kennel that is Fort Knox'd proof. Tin roof. Until a mink got in and got one of my girls. So redid ALL the tiny holes and have had no problem. The folks down the road have 3 big 10' x 10' dog kennels with nothing. And have never had a problem. The tarp came off and they didn't replace it. No diggers. Nada. But across the road about 1/2 mi from them a man has lost 5 goats this month by a panther. Not a bobcat. Has photos and everything. Scary.