1/2x1/2 hardware cloth or 1x2 welded wire for outdoor aviary?

[PostgeStampFarm]

Very nice run...I suggest using cut planks or plywood to build a type of wainscoating at least 18" high around the bottom. It is very strong, looks great and really impedes many critters. This is our run which is about 10' deep and 6' wide but in this pic you can see the wood around the bottom.

 

[Joe.G]

That is what I am worried about also the broken neck issue, It is a trade off do I worry about broken neck or do I worry about something getting in though the ceiling? So far my only issues ( Knock on wood ) Have been from the hawks. I have other animals here ( Friend trapped a fisher about 600 yards from my coop in the fall ) and I saw a Mink A few years ago running thought the yard, I also saw a family of coons one time a couple years back running though the yard at night.I have seen a poussmum dead on the road along with a skunk, I don't see these animals often, I don't know if it is the high Hawk population or the High fox and coyote Population that keep them at bay. If I see them I will get rid of them myself also.

 

[Muffin14143]

Here are some pictures of my coop. We have literally EVERY predator where I live! Hawks, coons, coyotes, fishers, possums, cats, dogs, foxes, even crows eye my bantams. I have never lost a chicken to a predator, and they are out all day. We had a family friend build the coop a couple years ago. I'm going to stain the wood and paint it this spring. BTW, that post office coop is adorable! I'd love to theme mine like that.

 

[AugeredIn]

I have coons, possums, fox, coyote, bobcats, and two varieties of hawks and we have never had a problem using 2x4 wire and netting. I know nothing about weasels however and they sound like a problem for you. I will add that I saw you posted some info on the use of hardware cloth and poultry netting and got some negative feedback. We have used both and we routinely have racoons in the facility and have never had a racoon break through either My problem with poultry netting is that it does deteriorate to quickly realtive to cost. You cannot use poultry netting on the sides of the peafowl enclosure as it is just too weak. Your choice of 1"x1/2" was good as hardware cloth IS a visual impediment.

I have, unfortunately, experienced two broken necks on a brooder enclosure for juveniles that originally had a wire top. No more.

If you have ever witnessed peafowl getting excited and flying in an enclosure you know the force they hit the top with. We are even sensitive about cross bracing at the top. They will hit that hard as well.

 

[Muffin14143]

Oh, that's too bad. I have never had this as I have very high ceilings in both the coop and the aviary. We had to make them high so they could fit over a window. Maybe you could make the roof high enough so the birds can't injure themselves? Sorry about your birds, that must have been really sad.

 

[Joe.G]

Well, I got the frame built today and I went with a 9 Ft Ceiling, There are cross braces, and I am still not sure if I am going to use Wire or getting netting for the top. I am going to use the 1/2 x 1 Welded Wire for the sides.

 

[MoonShadows]

Post some pics if you have the chance.

 

[AugeredIn]

Oh, that's too bad. I have never had this as I have very high ceilings in both the coop and the aviary. We had to make them high so they could fit over a window. Maybe you could make the roof high enough so the birds can't injure themselves? Sorry about your birds, that must have been really sad.

The deaths were peafowl not chickens and were with a ten foot enclosure height. With peafowl, height does not help. They are just going faster the higher the ceiling. We use 8-10 foot heights on the enclosures to allow them flight room. All of our chicken breeding pens have wire tops (2x4) and are 6 feet tall.

 

[Joe.G]

I'll snap some pic's when I have a chance, Just taking a lunch break then it's back out to cont on, After today I won't be able to work on it for a few day's, then I have to pay attention to the weather it is still winter here, but yesterday and today are nice, I am not in a huge rush to get it done.