They chew through hardware cloth?!?

[sourland]

Updates?

 

[GrovesEdge]

So far so good! The bottom 30” is being wrapped in cage wire. The side of the coop that faces away from the house has been done. We also got a camera with an alert if it detects activity.

With all the thunder and lightning this week I haven’t been able to install everything yet. We have a motion detector flood light shining on the side of the coop facing the house (not wrapped yet), so we’re keeping an eye on it.

We think it might have been the neighbor’s dog. We saw her on our property when this started. When she was back again the next day and went straight to the same spot like she was trying to put her nose through... She didn’t look innocent!

Thanks to everyone for the help!

 

[MarlaMac]

Good catch!

I would also trim around the coop so that the hardware cloth is positioned between two pieces of board. If it is only stapled to one board it is a lot easier for a predator to rip through the material.

How did you attach the welded wire fencing? You could probably accomplish the same strength by using screws and large washers.

The point being, you want them to have to really fight to rip it open. (Reinforcing it like this gives you time to find and fix b/c it usually takes a couple of days for them to work it open). You can accomplish this by either trimming out the coop or using the screws and washers in strategic locations all around the coop.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Another coop and run admirer here. We're thinking of building something very similar, so I'm saving your photo for later inspiration!

Our current setup looks a lot like your new reinforcement. We have a metal Omlet run with 1/2" hardware cloth up the lower 24". I would be flabbergasted if something besides a mouse (because there's always a gap) or a bear got in.

But your experience is making me second guess how we want to build our permanent run (which likely would have been just hardware cloth), so thank you for sharing!

 

[Wild Chickens]

Consider chain link fence from Lowes. That is what I used, then covered that with chicken wire to deter the smaller varmints.

 

[Grizzler]

If you don't have washers you can cut 1" x1s or 2" x 2 strips of wood instead.Secure them well enough to hold the weight of any animal that climbs the hw cloth (bob cats,etc.)Adding WIRE fencing overtop 0f the hw cloth will prevent their claws tearing or ripping the hw cloth

I bought several pieces of Trex-type deck board cut-offs through my local buy-and-sell (Kijiji here in Canada). I cut them into 2-inch strips, with two screw holes drilled into each piece (drilled before cutting was easier). I use these to hold up the clear plastic sheets I put up around the coop for the winter months. These will last forever.
For the hardware cloth I’ve used screws and washers.
Both working really well.

 

[McChooky]

Consider chain link fence from Lowes. That is what I used, then covered that with chicken wire to deter the smaller varmints.

A chain link and hw cloth combo is the bomb but chicken wire rusts , stretches and breaks.It doesn't keep mice, rats ,weasels or snakes out which leads to rat infestations.

 

[cat1642]

First 24 hours as a chicken mama and loving it! My mom and I are excited to be doing this together.

Our girls are in an elevated henhouse with an attached run. This morning there was a hole in the hardware cloth leading into the run. Thankfully, they were safe in the henhouse. (See, ladies, you really did need to go in there!)

The chickens were here less than 12 hours, and we already have predators knocking. I’m stunned they were able to chew through 1/4” hardware cloth. What do you do when hardware cloth isn’t enough? We also have a skirt of hardware cloth extending 3’ out from the coop. Any suggestions for increasing our defenses?

 

[cat1642]

I bought several pieces of Trex-type deck board cut-offs through my local buy-and-sell (Kijiji here in Canada). I cut them into 2-inch strips, with two screw holes drilled into each piece (drilled before cutting was easier). I use these to hold up the clear plastic sheets I put up around the coop for the winter months. These will last forever.
For the hardware cloth I’ve used screws and washers.
Both working really well.

 

[cat1642]

my entire flock, 14 laying hens were killed by two loose buldogs that a couple let run free. after they killed mine they went over to my neighbors and got access to his from a higher position, as it was higher on one side they couldn't get out. my neighbor heard the chickens and the dogs are no longer a problem. we both have 1/4 in. hardware. after this happened my husband repaired where the dogs tore the wire then got some chain link fence and put it on top of the hardware cloth. good luck it is very difficult to keep the predators' out. We thought our coop was very tight but now we are fighting the snakes. luckily they are non poisonous so far. So back to the drawing board with checking and re-checking and fulling any small holes with steel wool. good luck