TSC Producers Pride Defender 2020 Version

[Thomaswgordon]

Looking really good! I’d suggest doing the whole sides with hardware cloth, not just the gaps, because those holes are large enough that rodents or snakes can get in and a raccoon can even reach in and grab a chicken. If you totally secure the run, you won’t need to worry about an automatic coop door as it can just stay open all the time and they can have free access.

Do you think I could get away with just the bottom half of the sides? Hardware cloth is expensive and I’ve already spent a lot on additions since the coop.

 

[3KillerBs]

Do you think I could get away with just the bottom half of the sides? Hardware cloth is expensive and I’ve already spent a lot on additions since the coop.

It's expensive, but I lost 5 chicks -- worth about $30 -- to a black rat snake this week and am still not sure I found the place it got in.

 

[Thomaswgordon]

It's expensive, but I lost 5 chicks -- worth about $30 -- to a black rat snake this week and am still not sure I found the place it got in.

Oh no! More expensive around me. I’m paying about $20 a roll of 10x3

 

[3KillerBs]

Oh no! More expensive around me. I’m paying about $20 a roll of 10x3

The larger the roll you get the less expensive per foot.

We bought ours in 100-foot rolls for half what the same amount would cost in 10-foot rolls.

My BIL just found the best price from Amazon vs. Tractor Supply, Home Depot, or Lowes.

 

[aart]

I didn’t even know that was a thing! Will definitely add it, I’m in Maryland we get a little bit of all weather. The tarp goes in between the coop roof and the run. So water will still get on the front of coop just not as much. Not sure how I can rig this to stop, maybe fill the gap with great stuff to have it divert to the side of coop?

Basic 'roof run off' sense.
Foam will not take care of the problem.
Having the edge of the tarp go over the coop roof should work.

 

[DavidReaves]

It's expensive, but I lost 5 chicks -- worth about $30 -- to a black rat snake this week and am still not sure I found the place it got in.

Snakes are a risk to chicks and eggs but shouldn't be too much of a problem for larger chickens. If you put a strip of hardware cloth around the entire bottom of the coop (maybe 24" instead of 36" to save some cost) you can protect them from all other predators other than snakes. From your pictures, it looks like you may be rural/suburban enough to have snakes.

My two-cents is that you have to decide what level of risk you want to allow. People raised chickens without fences for a long time, or just light chicken wire once they did have fences. They also sometimes lost some chickens. Only you can decide what's best for you.

 

[Thomaswgordon]

Snakes are a risk to chicks and eggs but shouldn't be too much of a problem for larger chickens. If you put a strip of hardware cloth around the entire bottom of the coop (maybe 24" instead of 36" to save some cost) you can protect them from all other predators other than snakes. From your pictures, it looks like you may be rural/suburban enough to have snakes.

My two-cents is that you have to decide what level of risk you want to allow. People raised chickens without fences for a long time, or just light chicken wire once they did have fences. They also sometimes lost some chickens. Only you can decide what's best for you.

Good point, we do have some snakes but not many that I’ve seen. I already bought the 36 inch which will go exactly halfway up the side. So I’m thinking I may just do that and it should cover vast majority of predators.

 

[Thomaswgordon]

Basic 'roof run off' sense.
Foam will not take care of the problem.
Having the edge of the tarp go over the coop roof should work.

The tarp is a pretty tight fit and I don’t think I can manipulate it enough to lay on top of the roof. Any other suggestions on some sort of run off maybe just underneath the tarp on the coop?

 

[DavidReaves]

The tarp is a pretty tight fit and I don’t think I can manipulate it enough to lay on top of the roof. Any other suggestions on some sort of run off maybe just underneath the tarp on the coop?

After looking at your photos closely, I would suggest that you put a piece of L-shaped flashing between the roof of the coop and the tarp on the run. Put one side of the L against the coop roof (maybe caulked) and the other side, bottom, of the L on the tarp. Use some caulk on it to seal between the tarp and the metal then use a strip of aluminum adhesive-backed tape along the edge and making a full seal. The aluminum tape will last as long as the tarp does, or longer. The ends of the flashing can go just a bit beyond the sides of the coop roof to redirect any rain. Dealing with snow on the tarp roof is a different issue. You may just have to keep it swept off to protect the tarp from the weight.

 

[Thomaswgordon]

After looking at your photos closely, I would suggest that you put a piece of L-shaped flashing between the roof of the coop and the tarp on the run. Put one side of the L against the coop roof (maybe caulked) and the other side, bottom, of the L on the tarp. Use some caulk on it to seal between the tarp and the metal then use a strip of aluminum adhesive-backed tape along the edge and making a full seal. The aluminum tape will last as long as the tarp does, or longer. The ends of the flashing can go just a bit beyond the sides of the coop roof to redirect any rain. Dealing with snow on the tarp roof is a different issue. You may just have to keep it swept off to protect the tarp from the weight.

I’m having a real hard time picturing what your saying in regards to the flashing. Would it go on top of the tarp?