Alternatives to hardware cloth??

[ValerieJ]

Right now on my very large run I have hardware cloth only on the bottom few feet. Then I have a hotwire at the top edge of that. I haven't had a land predator attack in 4 years, and we have many here. I'm not sure how the price compares to over all hardware cloth, but I have given up on the idea of saving money when it comes to chickens. I have the most expensive eggs in town.

 

[trudyg]

I would work around the lower edges at first to keep out predators that come out during the day, assuming your coop is secure during the night. I would add electric fencing halfway up to deter climbing predators, such as bobcats, during the day, which would also deter climbing ones at night. Cheaper bird netting for over the top to keeps hawks out during the day, maybe, until you can afford to finish it all with top security. If you use bird netting, take some old cd's or tie ribbons to it so birds will know something is there--nothing worse than the hawk who can't get out of the pen!

 

[IamRainey]

Wishing you the best with it, LulaBell!

 

[gtaus]

We have poultry netting up right now but I know this is not going to be enough.

What makes you think the poultry netting is not going to be enough? Depending on where you live, that may be all you need.

I use 2x4 welded wire, which is not predator proof, but it is predator resistant and has deterred all my daytime predators. I have bird netting for the top, which has been good enough to keep out hawks and eagles. At night I lock my girls up in a Fort Knox coop, so my run does not have to be 100% predator proof with 1/2 inch hardware cloth all the way around (very expensive). For me, the 2X4 welded wire hit the spot of good protection for cost of material. If I had unlimited money, yeah, I'd go with the hardware cloth.

It has already been suggested to just add 2x4 welded wire over your poultry netting. Another option may be to add another layer of poultry wire, staggered half way, over your existing wire. It might not be the "best" solution, but it would offer you more protection than just one layer of poultry netting and it would not cost as much as many other alternatives.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

Thanks! We did some looking but could only find 25' roles. We will keep at it!

If you look on the TSwebsite it only shows the short ones... goofy... but if you google 1/2”x100’ hardware cloth...many retailers come up..that’s how we found it at TS

 

[perkolator]

To add to the Amazon comment -- when I was looking earlier this Summer, Amazon roll of hardware cloth was the cheapest option within a 25 mile radius of where I live (1/2" x 48" - 100'). I went with a local farm supply instead as it was only $8 more, mainly because I figured it would end up mangled in transit.

 

[LulaBell]

I’m not sure why I didn’t think of looking on Amazon, they have everything!

We will definitely install hardware cloth on at least the bottom half with a strand of electric around the top of that.

What makes you think the poultry netting is not going to be enough? Depending on where you live, that may be all you need.

I use 2x4 welded wire, which is not predator proof, but it is predator resistant and has deterred all my daytime predators. I have bird netting for the top, which has been good enough to keep out hawks and eagles. At night I lock my girls up in a Fort Knox coop, so my run does not have to be 100% predator proof with 1/2 inch hardware cloth all the way around (very expensive). For me, the 2X4 welded wire hit the spot of good protection for cost of material. If I had unlimited money, yeah, I'd go with the hardware cloth.

It has already been suggested to just add 2x4 welded wire over your poultry netting. Another option may be to add another layer of poultry wire, staggered half way, over your existing wire. It might not be the "best" solution, but it would offer you more protection than just one layer of poultry netting and it would not cost as much as many other alternatives.

Our last run was a hog panel coop covered in poultry netting. We had a predator (assuming a raccoon) rip through it in a night. The girls are locked in the coop at night, but that showed me something could easily get in if it wanted to.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I went with a local farm supply instead as it was only $8 more, mainly because I figured it would end up mangled in transit.

Could happen, but I ordered two rolls that arrived with no damage.

 

[Ghosty]

I named my Cairn Terrier Lula Bell!

There is no substitute for hardware cloth. Other methods work for some, but if you have doubts and you have mink or weasels around... I would 100% use hardware cloth. Electric fencing around the perimeter is the only thing gonna stop a bear. Mink and weasels are no joke and will wipe you out. They can get through a 1" gap, and chicken wire wont stop them. If you have a hole, they will find it. Here is good recent mink thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/look-what-we-caught-in-our-trap.1340536/

 

[gtaus]

Our last run was a hog panel coop covered in poultry netting. We had a predator (assuming a raccoon) rip through it in a night. The girls are locked in the coop at night, but that showed me something could easily get in if it wanted to.

I always say that poultry netting is good for keeping chickens in, but not so good at keeping anything else out. My strategy is to use the 2x4 welded wire fencing for the daytime run, which keeps out most any predators in my neighborhood - mainly dogs. At night, the girls are locked up tight in the coop and anything other than a bear is not going to get in there.

I also have mink and weasels in my area, but I have only had concerns with them at night - which is why I have to lock up my girls before dark. If you don't lock your hens up at night, then I would certainly recommend saving the money for 1/2 inch hardware cloth.

I am trying to work out a modular panel chicken run system where I could buy some good fencing/wire and add more panels later as I have more money to put into the run. If you built something like that, you would not have to invest all the money at one time. Your chickens would have a smaller, but safe and secure run that you could add on to later. Mink and weasels are good climbers, so you would have to build a tight run (top, sides, and predator apron) if your goal is to keep them out.