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

[Chick Charm]

Doing it right is never cheap. It will save you in the long run though. 1/2 hardware cloth when installed straight and true is not bad looking at all.

Best of wishes.

 

[Joe.G]

1/2 x 1 was about $50.00 more so it wasn't cheaper, I just don't see how anything but a mouse could fit though it, it is very small. I still don't know what to do for the top, People on the Peafowl side say you don't want it stiff because they can fly into it and break there necks. But I do want it secure.

 

[conny63malies]

All a racoon needs is to be able to stick its hand in there. They can do that with a 1/2 in x 1in . 2-3 ft rat snakes will fit through too. Chances are that a racoon will climb up the sides and tear through the chicken wire on top.. I would go with 1/2 in hardware cloth on the sides and the 1/2 in x 1in stuff on top.

 

[Joe.G]

I don't plan to stick the roosts, right next to the wall or to close to the top, so that should help with them grabbing them while they roost.

 

[conny63malies]

Thats a plus then. Also keep the food away from the edges to minimize any risks .

 

[Joe.G]

I don't feel like bringing back the 12/x1, I will if I have to, I just don't see anything getting though it. The top is what bothers me, I wonder if I put to layers of 1 Inch chicken wire up there, one running long ways and the other the shorter way.

 

[MoonShadows]

It's not how much, it's the gauge of the wire. Some predators can rip right through the chicken wire. Two layers would just take them a little longer to get through.

 

[conny63malies]

Oh and dont forget to get good locks. Racoons can open some of the closures pretty fast. I got three locks on each door. Two barrel bolts and some other thing where i can hang a padlock.

 

[veganurbanfarm]

How did the hardware cloth come out? I plan on using the 1/2x1/2 for my whole run and then maybe adding a translucent top to half of the run for weather reasons. I read a post here about a year ago where a guy made a roof out of hard white plastic of some sort for his run, but I have concerns about raccoons and so forth tearing it up. If I cover the whole thing in hardware cloth I'd have insurance against a mishap like that occurring. Please post updates on how easy it was to work with and how it came out when you finished!

 

[AugeredIn]

Not that you can do anything about it with your predator problem but eventually you will suffer a broken neck on the peafowl with the wire top. It won't be a common occurence but it will happen. When you first pen them in the new enclosure, introduce new birds or attempt to catch for worming or treatment you will want to hold your breath. Peafowl aren't like chickens or other poultry that are running at of steam at about 6 feet off the ground. They are just getting started and have a good head of steam.