Best way to attach chicken wire to hardware cloth.

[teddyjames]

I know, I know, chicken wire is to keep chickens out of your garden, not to keep predators out!

I think I got the idea here, (the perimeter of the run) to go up a couple feet with chicken wire over hardware cloth, then a couple feet out horizontal to deter digging creatures. Anywho, its worth a try so here is my question.

If you can imagine, what would be the best way to attach said rig as above? My ideas include- 1.) Bailing wire, but I don't like the sharp points. 2.) Plastic zip ties, well those would be easy to chew through, think sharp toothed raccoon, plus they too leave a sharp point after cutting off the loose end. I hate the idea of having to wrap wire around every point 2 inches apart. So far zip ties are winning. Any other methods?

 

[DobieLover]

I think you got it backwards. People would recommend going over the chicken wire with 1/2" hardware cloth, but not the other way around.

Chicken wire should never be used as a predator apron. Putting it in contact with the ground would hasten it's breakdown and it's flimsy enough to begin with. I would stick with a 1/2" hardware cloth or even 1"x1".
What is your coop/run constructed from?

 

[rosemarythyme]

x2. You use the HWC for the apron and to form a surround to prevent raccoons reaching through, for example mine is HWC over chain link:

As far as attachments I wouldn't trust anything that wasn't metal. As seen above I have hog rings and stainless steel zip ties (which are expensive) augmented with UV resistant zip ties, or you can weave wire in to hold pieces together.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I would use plastic zip ties temporarily, in a pinch, if I didn't have anything else, until I could get something more permanent. No raccoon is smart enough to know he has to chew through them to compromise the integrity of the fencing. I wouldn't use them every 2" by any means. Maybe every foot or so apart would be plenty, or even farther, if everything is tight.

 

[teddyjames]

I'm using chain link for the perimeter of the run, and to keep chicks in, raccoon paws out, and to deter digging, going to put up something about 2ft high around, and 2 ft flat on the ground. Digging a trench is not an option so I have to go out horizontal.

My birds will be put up at night, with eyes on them during the day.

 

[Ridgeback825]

Hog rings. Lot and lots of hog rings.

 

[teddyjames]

I like the hog rings idea!

 

[Pgw]

I know, I know, chicken wire is to keep chickens out of your garden, not to keep predators out!

I think I got the idea here, (the perimeter of the run) to go up a couple feet with chicken wire over hardware cloth, then a couple feet out horizontal to deter digging creatures. Anywho, its worth a try so here is my question.

If you can imagine, what would be the best way to attach said rig as above? My ideas include- 1.) Bailing wire, but I don't like the sharp points. 2.) Plastic zip ties, well those would be easy to chew through, think sharp toothed raccoon, plus they too leave a sharp point after cutting off the loose end. I hate the idea of having to wrap wire around every point 2 inches apart. So far zip ties are winning. Any other methods?

I am using metal zip ties for overlap on hardware cloth. Didn't want to "sew" together using wire which I've seen so using stainless zip ties .

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Hog rings, or J clips for making rabbit/hampster cages. (The jrings are cheap, invest in the J ring pliers. TRUST ME. )

But ditto all the posts above - chicken wire keeps chickens in. It keeps nothing out.