Can ravens tear through hardware cloth?

[kellykungfu]

Hi Everyone,

I'm building my coop with, I believe 16 gauge hardware cloth. My neighborhood had a bunch of large ravens. I'll enclose the top of the run and might do a double wall of hardware cloth for the sides (got a few feral cats and raccoons too).

Can a raven tear off or tear apart the hardware cloth? I'm not as concerned about the raccoons as my neighbor has a koi pond (fish pond) and the raccoons don't mess with the fish.

Thanks in advance,
kelly

 

[Shanay235]

I'd be more concerned about the raccoons than the ravens. Just because the raccoon doesn't go fishing doesn't mean they'll leave your birds alone to. They'll have a chick dinner the first time they get a chance.
To answer your question, no, I don't think a raven can get through that guage of cloth.

 

[danielbrown]

Ravens can't.

"I'm not as concerned about the raccoons as my neighbor has a koi pond (fish pond) and the raccoons don't mess with the fish."

because they don't mess with fish doesn't mean they won't eat chicken.

 

[Mahlzeit]

Don't think the ravens would get through it.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Just curious...

Why does your neighbor have a bunch of large ravens?

Also, as someone already stated, racoons should be your bigger worry, but if you do the coop in hardwire cloth, you should be pretty well off. Ravens will not be able to get through it, and the holes will be too small for the coons to put their greedy little paws through.

-Kim

 

[CMV]

Both ravens and raccoons are very smart and have been known to use tools to get into a closed pen. You are using hardware cloth, so GREAT, but remember your latches. I feel that insecure latches are the weakest point of many coops. Get a lock.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[amazondoc]

If you're seriously worried about the strength of the wire, use 1/2" x 1" welded wire instead. It is strong cage wire. Just make sure that the seams between rolls of wire are also strong.

 

[Judy]

And don't just use staples to secure the hardware cloth. Use fender washers and screws.