Building First Coop - Some General Questions from a Newbie!

[rosemarythyme]

Okay thanks! Our plan is to cover/bury all the apron mesh with soil. I’ve seen some people talk about using stakes as well- is that just personal choice or are they necessary to keep it down?

It helps hold the mesh down and keep it flat, so pests/predators can't easily hook a claw in it. If let's say you're planning to seed grass over it (or if grass/weeds will naturally grow in) then that will hold it down for you.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Okay thanks! Our plan is to cover/bury all the apron mesh with soil. I’ve seen some people talk about using stakes as well- is that just personal choice or are they necessary to keep it down?

If you don't bury it you need to hold it flat some way. Otherwise it gets in your lawn mower or weed eater or might leave an area unprotected. I generally remove the sod, lay the wire, then replace the sod so it has grass growing to start with. Even if there is no grass the dirt keeps it down.

If it starts to curl up or poke through, then weigh it down. You need to react to what is happening with yours. That can be different to what I see.

 

[Sillyna511]

If you don't bury it you need to hold it flat some way. Otherwise it gets in your lawn mower or weed eater or might leave an area unprotected. I generally remove the sod, lay the wire, then replace the sod so it has grass growing to start with. Even if there is no grass the dirt keeps it down.

If it starts to curl up or poke through, then weigh it down. You need to react to what is happening with yours. That can be different to what I see.

Yeah we're definitely going to be burying it under the dirt. I just didn't know if we needed stakes in addition to burying it. I guess we'll start with the dirt and see what happens - if it starts trying to pull up at some point, we'll add stakes.