Critter Protection for the beds - new design

**sanderson** 4/10/2017, 2:12 am

I saw this on Facebook, and with the designer's permission, I am posting here. All four sides can be opened. Design by Michael Quentin Fey.

Critter Protection for the beds - new design Critte11

Critter Protection for the beds - new design Critte10

Directions:

"4ft long, 18" tall, 24" long dowel rods (1" diameter)

5" PVC sections with 1" internal diameter. Hardware cloth cut to 17"x4ft sections and stapled. I predrilled everything before screwing. Made each side individually, brought the section to the box, kept the rods in the PVC before mounting the brackets. It is important to label side each with corresponding PVC for the gates to fit properly. They aren't interchangeable."

**sanderson** 4/10/2017, 3:33 am

Got to thinking. For those who mow around the beds, the 1" PVC holders could be secured inside the beds, making adjustments to the size so the gates can fit. Sort of like I do with my "cup bolders", only those I install in the inside corners and mid way on long beds.

yolos 4/10/2017, 8:55 am

I like it.

Ginger Blue 4/10/2017, 9:09 am

Funny you would post this today, because I was thinking of something like this last night.

From the angle of the photo, it's hard to tell what the corners look like. Is there a small gap between the gate supports at each corner, where mice, voles, or other small creatures could squeeze in? If so, would mounting the gates from inside the box remedy that?

herblover 4/10/2017, 11:40 am

Very nice! I have 4x1 wooden frames topped with 3' high chicken wire which works well. They are new this year because my old ones finally fell apart and the wire was all bent in. I think I had shorter wire before as well.

**sanderson** 4/10/2017, 1:45 pm

I think the craftsmanship is what will determine whether anything can squeeze in between the corners, whether inside or outside. Or, put screws part way in on the tops and bind together with a Goody elastic.

Mice can climb up anything, so a matching lid would be needed to be mouse/rat proof. I even had one dig under the open-bottom worm bin to get to the new food, so hardware cloth on the bottom would also be needed.

yolos 4/10/2017, 6:06 pm

A hook and an eye holding the sides tightly together could easily be added to easily open the sides when needed.

Banned Member 4/11/2017, 7:41 am

Who can come up with an addition to this design to keep squirrels out as well? What type of removable top could be added that would not hinder the sunlight?

Your dog looks like he/she is posing and smiling for the camera. Give him/her a pet for me. Dogs are the best people.

yolos 4/11/2017, 9:54 am

TNGeezer wrote:Who can come up with an addition to this design to keep squirrels out as well? What type of removable top could be added that would not hinder the sunlight?

Your dog looks like he/she is posing and smiling for the camera. Give him/her a pet for me. Dogs are the best people.

Make a panel just like the sides (without the dowels) and just lay it on the top. Or make a critter cage like what is in Mel's book. This is the design. Complements of Trolleydriver in his thread A First Time SFG in Canada. Of course this would depend on how big of a bed you are trying to cover.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t19481-a-first-time-sfg-in-canada
Critter Protection for the beds - new design DSCN8601_zpsd2fjfwtn

Critter Protection for the beds - new design DSCN8601_zpsd2fjfwtn

**sanderson** 4/11/2017, 4:45 pm

yolos wrote:
TNGeezer wrote:Who can come up with an addition to this design to keep squirrels out as well? What type of removable top could be added that would not hinder the sunlight?
Make a panel just like the sides (without the dowels) and just lay it on the top. Or make a critter cage like what is in Mel's book. This is the design. Complements of Trolleydriver in his thread A First Time SFG in Canada. Of course this would depend on how big of a bed you are trying to cover.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t19481-a-first-time-sfg-in-canada

+1

CapeCoddess 4/11/2017, 4:51 pm

I've done well keeping squirrels out using Mel's hoop tunnels with some netting thrown over it. Keep it tight so they can't find an opening and then they don't bother.

CC

Frost? 3/3/2022, 10:57 am

"Conestoga" style hinged cover for critter deterrence; affords ability to cover with burlap for sun protection, to minimize rain damage, or cover with plastic drop cloth for greenhousing.

Critter Protection for the beds - new design 100_6618

**sanderson** 3/3/2022, 9:48 pm

Thanks for sharing.

Soose 3/4/2022, 8:53 am

The hinge affair on the Conestoga type makes a lot more sense than the flap down front we made, which is a pain to lift up out of the way.

That's mostly because right now, I have a green house plastic cover on for winter. It also has zippers and a like fold back opening on the front. Only we didn't get the seams / zippers lined up correctly. (We put the chicken wire on in Summer, while the covers were stowed away. Forgot the zippers weren't at the corners.)

If the cage hinged out of the way, the covers would just stay in place, and hinge out with them. Better winter access. Thanks, Very Happy

forwarded photo.

Frost? 3/4/2022, 9:29 am

Exactly. I actually keep the burlap/plastic in place over the chicken wire with bungee cords across from front to back (maybe 3). I started similarly to you, holding the flap up with a stick while I'm trying to nip leaves (and getting poked by free ends of the chicken wire). The hinges are simple - nothing extravagant. A couple of conduit clamps and a scrap of 2x4.

Critter Protection for the beds - new design Clamp_10

Critter Protection for the beds - new design Stop_b10

Soose 3/4/2022, 9:50 am

Thanks, Frost, I was wondering about hinges on the Conestoga style.

Frost? 3/4/2022, 9:56 am

Soose wrote:Thanks, Frost, I was wondering about hinges on the Conestoga style.

My pleasure. Everything I do is on the cheap!

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