Solution to protruding screws.

[teddyjames]

Oh, I'm so super excited to finally see (almost) a complete elevated coop. Time to button it up, construct a brooder, purchase all the little things you can't make like a heat lamp, bedding/straw etc. Finish the run, basically time to get super busy! I can make anything except for money, but one thing has me stumped.

What to do with those sharp protruding screws that I used to attach sheet metal?
Grind them off? I'm afraid they might lose their grip.
Cover them with small bits of rubber hose? Won't chickens eat rubber?
Cover the inside of the walls like a house? Currently thinking of this, but other than wood or metal which are in very short supply currently, what materials would be safe to cover the inside walls short of wood or metal? (My friend suggested linoleum carpet/rug but already know chickens will eat that so that's a no). How about rubber mats? Might just nail up some sort of thin wood but if anyone has a good solution, I won't have to cover the whole inside.

 

[teddyjames]

Just thought of this. Take a small block of wood, drill hole in it, fill with wood glue, slide over the pokey part, let dry, done. Will this work?

 

[skeeeter]

If you plan on cleaning that area, the best thing to do, in my opinion, would be to cut them off flush with the surface. Hope this helps.

 

[teddyjames]

It's the walls, there are areas where metal to metal attachment was done with longer than needed screws. I could use a good pair of lineman's pliers and cut them off which would leave a very small protrusion instead of grinding them off and possibly losing the "hold" the screw had. I'm just concerned with birds bumping into them creating a puncture wound. I think snipping them off would still leave a sharp-ish point but will see the results.. nice idea since I do have the tools needed.

 

[skeeeter]

Most tiny sharpish points would only touch the feathers if on the wall. It wouldn't be a bad idea to buff them off a bit, though, if you are planning on raising broilers in there at all. Broilers grow so fast that they become extremely klutzy.. you know, like the bull in the china cabinet. Normal chickens don't get that way, but could crash into anything if they get startled enough.

 

[perkolator]

Where are they located and about how many screws?

 

[mowin]

Angle grinder with cutoff wheel. Will not compromise the holding strength of the screw.

 

[HerdAndHome]

I rummaged around and found nuts for tips that didn't protrude too far. Also found square, plastic nuts that cover the longer screw tips. The pic you show protrudes pretty far. May have to use a nut and nip off the tip. Gah. Such language. You know what I mean.
*#8 Square Push-In Nut, Nylon used backwards*

 

[user651618]

Twist some wine corks on the ends? I guess you'd have to drink a lot of wine though.