Wall Reinforcement

[Nestled Chickens]

We just finished building an awesome chicken coop and the first thing my dog does is try to chew through the corner! The coop is an actual building with plywood sides and we are planning on finishing it with siding this summer. Should we reinforce the coop with hardware cloth between the plywood and siding? Is metal siding overkill (I think so)? My husband is worried other predators will try to chew through the walls as well (I don't think the dog will try it again).

 

[Imp]

I have not seen a post about a predator chewing a hole through a wall to get in. (except rat)
But chewing enough to open it up to being pulled apart is possible I guess. I can't imagine what could get through metal siding except a bear.

Imp

 

[patandchickens]

Without pics I'm not sure I really have an opinion, it depends on the construction. I know from my uncle's direct experience that a motivated raccoon can claw a hole *through* somewhat-weathered 3/8" plywood; and if there are joints they can get enough of a hold of to pry apart, that is also a potential vulnerability. Just depends how the coop is made. Generally though if you used screws not nails, in sufficient number, through reasonable-thickness wood INTO reasonable-thickness wood, you are probably good against anything short of a bear.

I mean, did your dog show signs of likely being going to get INTO the coop if he'd continued chewing, or was he just going 'gnarr, gnarr, gnarr' and making teethmarks?

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Nestled Chickens]

Yeah, the dog was just gnarring for fun. But the plywood is OSB and my husband thinks that a determined dog will get through nonetheless.

 

[Dogfish]

OSB should be painted, and or covered with another siding material. OSB stand for Oreinted Strand Board, which is layers of large wood chips bound together by glue and pressure. It has very little structural integrity if it get's wet.