Predator Proofing the Coop

[NewChickenChic]

Hello! We have almost completed our coop - just have to put trim and siding on it and put hardware cloth on the screened windows! The coop is raised off of the ground with cinder blocks. We did not use pressure treated wood. Should I consider installing hardware cloth along the entire bottom of the coop, over top of the plywood? There are some small gaps around the plywood where we didn't get it cut just right. I just want to do as much as I can to avoid an attack on our girls. Thank you all for your input and suggestions!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Hey looks cute did you leave ventalation ? Does the window open.? How Many birds in it.?

 

[NewChickenChic]

Hey looks cute did you leave ventalation ? Does the window open.? How Many birds in it.?

There is one window in the back and one in the front and they do open. Do you think the two windows are enough ventilation? I have 5 chickens.

Do you think I need to hardware cloth the bottom?

 

[pennyJo1960]

There is one window in the back and one in the front and they do open. Do you think the two windows are enough ventilation? I have 5 chickens.

Do you think I need to hardware cloth the bottom?

I am not certain you have a solid floor right. Cover window opening with hardware cloth

 

[Folly's place]

You can't go wrong adding hardware cloth under that plywood floor. And how is it supported? Seems like too little framing under the floor, at least. Any opening larger than 1/2" diameter is too big, so add hardware cloth as needed.
What are the dimensions? It does look very cute, but small, and may need more ventilation. How about another vent along the highest wall at the roof line?
Will you have it higher off the ground, or are you going to fence off the ground under it?
For your very warm climate, more ventilation!
Mary

 

[NewChickenChic]

You can't go wrong adding hardware cloth under that plywood floor. And how is it supported? Seems like too little framing under the floor, at least. Any opening larger than 1/2" diameter is too big, so add hardware cloth as needed.
What are the dimensions? It does look very cute, but small, and may need more ventilation. How about another vent along the highest wall at the roof line?
Will you have it higher off the ground, or are you going to fence off the ground under it?
For your very warm climate, more ventilation!
Mary

The plywood is supported around the entire edge of the coop but there is really no support in the center. I think we can add that though. We bought a plan off of Etsy so it's not perfect. The coop is 6.5' by 3' (including the nest boxes). We had covered up the soffits with plywood but we could cover them in HC instead for more ventilation? Will that be too cold in the winter?

I guess we'll have to do a HC skirt. We'll just have to figure out how to do that with the cinder blocks there.

In addition to the coop - they'll have an 8' by 8' run.

 

[Folly's place]

That coop will barely hold three hens, so I'd roof your run, make it predator proof, and have the whole thing be a coop. In winter (you have winter?!) add vinyl sheeting to the north and windward sides of that run so it's comfortable for them.
More pictures will help!
Mary

 

[pennyJo1960]

I do agree birds should have 4 square foot per bird.