1/2" vs 1" galvenized hardware cloth?

[Terrie Mac]

We like to sit outside and watch the chick antics in the late afternoon and I was wondering if using 1" in the run for better viewing would be just as good (safe) as the 1/2". Also, any advantage or disadvantage to using the plastic coated wire?

 

[linben]

I based mine more on strength of the wire. Mine is actually a mixture of 1/2 and 1" for the run only. I only have a small run in case I need to keep them locked up. Otherwise they run around the yard all day.

 

[kelehe]

I chose 1/2" for my run, top to bottom, to prevent rats from getting in. They can get through a hole larger than 1/2". We live in an urban/suburban area and I am very predator conscious: cats, rats, raccoons, possums, etc. We can see through the 1/2" mesh just fine.

 

[AugeredIn]

I just finished a new run and coop. I used the 1/2" by 1" wire as I dislike the appearance of the regular 1/2" hardware cloth. I considered the 1" but I think you could have reach throughs. You can see through the 1/2" by 1" much better. I have had good size rat/oak snakes around the farm and they could go through the 1" square wire.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You might try painting the wire a dark color, black, real dark green, something like that. The wire seems to disappear and you can see through it much better. A roller is probably the easiest way to paint it.

 

[Ole rooster]

My intent is to keep the snakes out. I do have rat snakes and copperheads. It will be 1/4 inch for my coop. I'll have a predator proof area, including the underside of the coop, for the hens to come out of the coop in the morning till I get out to let them out to roam. All my cloth will be the 1/4 inch. Now that I think about it, maybe 1/2 will work. I'll just have to decide if a the snakes can get through. I have one mama snake that thinks we're friends. She just has no fear of me, but she does not like Morgan, me dog.

 

[m_shuman]

I have 1/4" Hardware cloth over my entire coop and I can view through it just fine. IMHO the smaller the hole the less critters that can reach in, squeeze in and get in.

 

[BoltonChicken]

1/2" is standard and is quite a bit stronger than 1". I would use it everywhere. If you run is closed off at night, then possibly one inch would work there, but
I would not use it if predators are a possibility.

 

[mrpekinduck]

raccoons can reach through 1 in. I use 1/2 in. but I'm paranoid about my ducks.

 

[drumstick diva]

some say to use deer/bird netting in loose spirals around the coop/run. Snakes try to crawl thru and get caught in the mesh and die. You could do this outside the perimeter of coop and /or run. The downside is cutting dead snakes out of the mesh. Ugh. Maybe crows would eat them up - I don't want to know.