Best Chicken Wire

[Lin Klein]

I have hardware cloth on my chicken/duck runs. I think it's probably the best option. However, it is really difficult to work with. I never could get it completely flat or tight in between the fence posts. I'd appreciate any tips anyone might have on how to work with hardware cloth.

 

[Leighe]

I have hardware cloth on my chicken/duck runs. I think it's probably the best option. However, it is really difficult to work with. I never could get it completely flat or tight in between the fence posts. I'd appreciate any tips anyone might have on how to work with hardware cloth.

Yeah I have cattle panel behind some of mine or dog kennel chain link fence. The only place I have it "free" is way up high above the cattle panels and I have it the lengths zip tied, so it's definitely not flat or tight. However, if yours is close to the ground you need to put something behind it. Wood, you could staple to, metal you could use wire or zip ties to put it on. I just want the entire bottom half of the pen and the kennels to have the hardware cloth because I have had raccoon problems. They have not bothered any of my animals since I've put hardware cloth on.....not to say it won't happen, just it hasn't happened.

 

[MrPepers]

Chicken wire here is like the wire in the Original Posters pic----not hardware cloth. The Only way chicken wire would last 14 years here is to keep it on the roll in the shed. But chicken wire we have here is not strong enough to keep out most predators---keep the chickens in until it starts rusting out.

I am looking for the best priced chicken wire because I am replacing a section where a deer ran into it and stretched it out. Chicken wire DOES last and holds up against predators.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I have hardware cloth on my chicken/duck runs. I think it's probably the best option. However, it is really difficult to work with. I never could get it completely flat or tight in between the fence posts. I'd appreciate any tips anyone might have on how to work with hardware cloth.

You can't cover very long distances with hardware cloth without it doing what you described. The closer the nailing points the better. Come-alongs are used to stretch bared wired and livestock fencing, so done carefully that might work with HC as well.

 

[aart]

Chicken wire DOES last and holds up against predators.

I'm guessing you haven't had a dog, raccoon, fox, or coyote try to get thru it.

 

[centrarchid]

Does anyone know where to buy the best chicken wire for the best price?

I use chicken wire, hardware cloth and more than one gauge of the 2" x 4" welded wire as well as chain length fencing. Each has applications suitable for poultry. NONE can stop a determined dog more than 60 lbs and otherwise they only slow predators down. There are different grades of chicken wire but I am not well versed in that. Most of my heavier duty chicken wire was acquired second hand.

Two approaches work for me to use chicken wire. First is to regard chicken wire only as a material to confine the chickens. Then you invest in method to keep predators from challenging the wire. Distance of predator from wire maintained by some sort of repellent (hotwire) and having chickens roost far enough away from the wire so as not to provide an extremely motivating target. The second is using chicken wire as a redundant layer for 2" x 4" welded wire. Mr. Fox will sometimes attempt to grab chickens through welded wire but chicken wire seems to put a stop to that very well. Welded wire also works againts Great-horned Owls and hawks like it does for chickens.

 

[MrPepers]

I'm guessing you haven't had a dog, raccoon, fox, or coyote try to get thru it.

I have had dogs, skunks, hawks, raccoons, possums, and hawks try to break into my chicken coop. Chicken wire stopped them.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I have had dogs, skunks, hawks, raccoons, possums, and hawks try to break into my chicken coop. Chicken wire stopped them.

You must be got some heavier gauge than we can get here. New chicken wire here----a dog tore it up and walked in----in seconds on the camera. The wire like you have in your aviator pic. Maybe that dog was more determined than most? After a year---a raccoon tore it up enough to get in----It does not work here----except to keep chickens in.

 

[MrPepers]

You must be got some heavier gauge than we can get here. New chicken wire here----a dog tore it up and walked in----in seconds on the camera. The wire like you have in your aviator pic. Maybe that dog was more determined than most? After a year---a raccoon tore it up enough to get in----It does not work here----except to keep chickens in.

The only heavy gauge chicken wire I have is 2 inch chicken wire on the top, the rest is just regular 1 inch chicken wire.

 

[PD-Riverman]

The only heavy gauge chicken wire I have is 2 inch chicken wire on the top, the rest is just regular 1 inch chicken wire.

Well I am Glad its working for you!