Securing Chain Link Doors

[cmullet]

can anyone help with securing chain link door on my pen? I have used a large dog run that my husband modified to have a pitched roof. I have wrapped the whole pen in galvanized small hole wire (learned the hard way on what can reach thru it) and I have done the ground all around it with 18inches of wire to make it more fox proof, the only issue now is the gaps around the door, I have it bunged and wired and zip tied, but takes me 20 mins to get in and out every day!! husband is lloking for easy solution.....
any help would be greatly appreciated!!
thanks

 

[Cyprus]

I tie gaps with medium gage wire. Idk what kind, it comes in a big spool.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I have one pen like that but I lock them in the adjacent coop at night.
I would keep the original door. Build either a rectangular wood or metal frame a couple inches larger than the door opening. Then build a framed hardware cloth door attached to the chain link one that will open and close with the chain link door that will fit snugly with the aforementioned frame when closed and latch to it.
Does that make sense?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

double post

 

[Percheron chick]

I have a 3" gap on one of my pens around the door. I took a scrap of expanded metal, secured it to the door sticking out to cover the opening. Putting it on the outside prevents the door from swinging in.

 

[cmullet]

how do you open the door?
as far as the other post about building a frame, I don't understand but my husband probably will! LOL

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Let me know.
I like the expanded metal idea. That saves building a door since it is so rigid.
I would still build a door frame so the expanded metal will fit within it when the door is closed.
As you know, some predators like mink and weasels can squeeze into a 1" opening. A small raccoon can squeeze through a couple inches.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Here's mine, the wire mesh overlaps on both the door and the fence so when the door is closed the gaps are covered. Downside is the door only swings one way now.

 

[aart]

Here's mine, the wire mesh overlaps on both the door and the fence so when the door is closed the gaps are covered. Downside is the door only swings one way now.

View attachment 1837072

Does door swing in?....that rack makes it look like hinged is 'locked'.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Does door swing in?....that rack makes it look like hinged is 'locked'.

Door swings inward. Near the hinge the mesh is curled inward slightly at the edge so it doesn't "pop" past the overlap and yet it's still enough to form an overlap when closed. I tweaked things as I went while installing it until it worked.

Not saying this is 100% the best way to secure a gap like this, as a determined predator could force their way through with some combo of pushing/pulling, however I mainly use this to deter rodents and it seems to work well for that purpose.