How Do I Keep Predators from Entering through Metal Roof "Ribs"

[snhchick]

I see a lot of coops that use metal roof panels but can't find any that mention predator proofing for the ribs (not sure if this is what they are called; see photo). I'm told that we have weasels and that they can enter through the ribs.



We gave up on the idea of converting our barn into a coop and bought a fixer upper coop from our neighbor. The roof is just nailed into the top of the coop walls. The coop is only 4'x6' and is sloped. Do I need to put a sheet of plywood under the roof or somehow use hardware cloth? If I have to tear it off, I may want to insulate, so any recommendations about that would be great as well. Thanks.

 

[Emma Miriam]

I'd love to hear what others say about this too. I'd imagine you could pull up the roof, attach hardware cloth to the wooden roof supports (rafters? purlins?) and then reattach the roof to the wood so that the hardware cloth is in between the wood and the roof. That could be a pain, though, and expensive depending on how big your coop is.

My other thought is that they sell "closure strips" for most roofing. Look at Home Depot or Lowes. They have horizontal and vertical ones, and I think the horizontal ones are the ones that match the rib. If you attached a closure strip to each end of the roof, that would seal it off. Just make sure you get a kind that matches the rib pattern on your particular roofing. Different brands are different.

Anyone have any other ideas?


Edited to say that either way, you'd probably have to pull the roof off...

 

[tcstoehr]

Closure strips seem like a good idea. I was thinking of taking some chicken wire and folding/bunching it into a tight wad of the right shape and shoving it in there. Either way I think will requite a nail to secure it.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

We have the same type of metal roof on our run. We used that expandable foam that come in a can, I think it's called "Great Stuff", cost around $3.00 Bought it at Lowe's. Our run is 8' x 16' and used 1 can.

 

[JanetS]

We put a sheet of plywood on first.

 

[FiFi-FaFa-FooFoo]

We have the same type of metal roof on our run. We used that expandable foam that come in a can, I think it's called "Great Stuff", cost around $3.00 Bought it at Lowe's. Our run is 8' x 16' and used 1 can.

did you use it in the coop too? I was worried about ventilation in the coop if I use that. thoughts?