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Good price for hardware cloth?

post #1 of 35
3/7/12 at 8:07pm
Thread Starter 

So our coop is coming along well.  We still have some work to do on it, but it's getting there.  Chicks will be here in 10 days!!!!wee.gifCan't wait!!  I haven't been this exited about something for a long time!!!!!

 

We plan to build a run on to the coop.  I would like the run to be predator proof so we can leave the pop door open for the chickens to let themselves in and out in decent weather.  Part of their run will include an open area with a covered roof.  Hubby wanted to take it off (our coop is a converted garden shed that had a lean to on it).  I am insisting that he leave it on for the chickens to enjoy when the weather is not so great.  I also want him to put some roosts in there just for them to enjoy during the day.  Then he wanted to tear the West wall off of it to open it up.  The South wall will be open with just hardware cloth or something on it.  I don't want the West wall taken off, I want it left on for shade.  The run will go West from the West wall so I want just a human size opening from the lean to in to the pen.

 

Hubby is insisting that the run only needs to be about 3 or 4 feet tall.  I really want it to be taller for cleaning purposes and from reading on here that is what most of you chicken experts are recommending.

 

I have learned on here that chicken wire is not strong enough to keep out predators (raccoon, coyote, mink, stray dogs, you name it we have it).  DH keeps saying that hardware cloth is too expensive (keep in mind that he is the spender of the family, not me).  We planned on having about 50 Barred Rocks.  We ordered 50 Barred Rocks then Chicken Math took over.  They throw in the rare exotic chick, plus an extra or two of the breed that you ordered (to offset mortality).  Then I couldn't resist those fluffy Silkie White Bantams and I can't have just one, so I ordered 3.  That brings us to a possibility of 56+/- chickens if we don't lose any.ep.gif

 

This is going to need to be a big run.  Space is not really an issue, just the cost of the material and hardware cloth to build it.  Is there something I am missing?  Is it really that expensive?  Is there a good source to get a good deal on it?  If you don't mind sharing, how much did you spend on your run?

 

I really don't want to compromise on the size of the run or the fact that it all has to be predator proof.  I'm open for any suggestions.  I'll see if I can post a photo of the coop in progress.IMG_8186_1_1.JPG

Iowa

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Iowa

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post #2 of 35
3/7/12 at 8:14pm

Your coop/run looks great!

 

For me, wayfair.com had the best price plus free shipping even compared to Home Depot. I think I saved over 50%.

1 barred rock, 1 easter egger and 1 black sex-link so far...

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1 barred rock, 1 easter egger and 1 black sex-link so far...

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post #3 of 35
3/7/12 at 11:37pm

Thank loads for the site.  With the free shipping, that's a GREAT price.

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post #4 of 35
3/8/12 at 4:22am

Lowes is a smidge cheaper than Depot, and good about price matching if you find it locally for less. You might even score 10% off if you track down the department manager and say you want to spend more on the hardware cloth as opposed to chicken wire. The manager might let you get that 10% on the whole bill with lumber, latches, hinges, ect.

 

We used treated lumber for the corner posts, and for the bottom rails. 4x4s in the corners, 1x6 on the bottom. Everything else is 2x4. On the duck side we built later, we used hardware cloth on the bottom 3 ft only, then a different galvanized fence for the upper part, and the roof is 2x4 in welded wire. Had an issue with birds coming in for feed, so we lined the upper fencing with plastic bird netting.

 

The one thing you don't want to compromise on is the hardware cloth. You can use cheaper netting on the roof for hawks as long as you lock them up every night. Sometimes I work really late now, so I'm glad we built the thing solid, not requiring a trip to lock them up and then let them out.

 

Depends on your predators. We have coons galore and opossum, hawks and owls. No rats or small things, no stray dogs who can rip through chicken wire, no fox or coyote. The coons were kind enough to climb all over my runs and leave foot prints showing me every spot they tried at.

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post #5 of 35
3/8/12 at 6:03am

I just got a roll of 1/2 inch 3' X 100' hardware cloth on Amazon for $108  ($1.08 a foot) which included free 2-day freight as an Amazon Prime member.  I'm not sure if that was a great price but compared to our local hardware stores it was a steal.  The local guys wanted $1.56 a foot.

 

Dennis

Gentleman City Chicken Farmer

The Mother Cluckers - 2 Buff Orps, 2 Barred Rock, 1 Gold Laced Wyandotte

Central Oregon Coast
Academic Technology Sales

 

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Dennis

Gentleman City Chicken Farmer

The Mother Cluckers - 2 Buff Orps, 2 Barred Rock, 1 Gold Laced Wyandotte

Central Oregon Coast
Academic Technology Sales

 

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post #6 of 35
3/8/12 at 7:06am

Wayfair! We ordered 3 rolls of 48" x 50'. Just checked them out again because we are putting in some more runs.

Hubby made ours 4' in the front and then angled it up to attach to the side of our barn. It is walkable where the door is but then slpoes down. Saved alot on hardware cloth, the higher stuff gets real pricey.

I love my Bantam's! 11 Dutch, 13 Ameraucana, 1 faverolle hen &  2 Seramas.

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I love my Bantam's! 11 Dutch, 13 Ameraucana, 1 faverolle hen &  2 Seramas.

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post #7 of 35
3/8/12 at 7:22am

Another vote for Wayfair. I only needed one roll of 36" X 50', so did not get free shipping, but the cost including shipping was less than a 25' roll at Home Depot. It arrived via FedEx 3 days after I ordered it.

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post #8 of 35
3/8/12 at 8:06am

Can anyone link to the one I should get - so many different types! 

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post #9 of 35
3/8/12 at 8:24am

So I checked Wayfair.com and one type of Hardware cloth .5" is NOT free shipping ... the other one is but it only comes in 3' widths?

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12

 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/631433/hey-gang-whatcha-think-of-my-plans-and-rooster-issue

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For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. - Hebrews 4:12

 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/631433/hey-gang-whatcha-think-of-my-plans-and-rooster-issue

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post #10 of 35
3/8/12 at 8:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by TonySorrento View Post

So I checked Wayfair.com and one type of Hardware cloth .5" is NOT free shipping ... the other one is but it only comes in 3' widths?


The free shipping is based on the order total. It has to be above $70 for free shipping. The larger rolls cost more and are shipped free. There should be a dropdown menu to select the size.

 

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