Chain link--chicken wire or hardware cloth for predator proofing?

[Kansaseq]

I am in the process of redoing my runs, and have put up two large chain link dog kennels. I am at the point of choosing hardware cloth or chicken wire to wrap the outside of the chain link. If I use hardware cloth for the bottom 2', will chicken wire above that prevent possums, minks, and weasels from getting in? Will those predators climb up chin link and chew through the chicken wire if I place it higher up, above the hardware cloth? I have lots of trees, so guessing that I'll have to do hardware cloth or some sort of a solid top. Don't want to loose any more birds. Any suggestions or advice welcome.

Edited to try and make it more clear. I wrote that at like 4am and my brain wasn't working

 

[baldie]

All 3 together.

 

[Anny]

If coon are the problem in your area, what out with just using chain link because they can reach their little hands through the larger opening in chain link.

 

[Kansaseq]

Quote:
I would be wrapping the bottom 2' with hardware cloth so they couldn't reach through. I guess my question is, is it safe to use chicken wire the rest of the way up? Will chicken wire keep out mink, weasels, and possums higher up on the chain link panel? My runs are now pretty large, and to use hardware cloth all the way up a 6' panel would be super expensive.

 

[cmom]

My main fencing is chicken wire. I have electric wire going around the outside of my coop, run and my bird's yard for predator control.
Once a neighborhood mutt dug under my fence and killed one of my hens during the day when my DH and I were gone which is rare. I put some bait out to try and catch it. It did come back. I had put some leg traps in the original place but it dug under in another place. I must have scared it off because it didn't get any of the birds on the second attempt. Since then I put up the electric wire around the outside of my fence. I had a possum try to dig under once but got zapped and let out a good scream and it was good night possum. I know some other critters have been in contact with the wire as I was sitting outside on my picnic table one night and a critter let out a scream so I figured it must have found the wire and got zapped too. My fence is 4ft high but I have a line up about a foot higher.

 

[patandchickens]

I'm not quite clear on this, does the run have a top? If it does not have a secure top (meaning, really genuinely predatorproof, not jsut chickenwire) then it does not matter too much IMO, what you're asking about, b/c predators can just climb a little bit *higher* and get over the whole thing.

If you do have a genuinely strong predatorproof top (and be aware it will have to be supported with a fairly extensive post-and-rafter type architecture), personally I feel save with 1/2" chickenwire (or you *could* use the normal 1" stuff, but some weasels will go through it) run on the INSIDE (chicken side) of the chainlink. Realistically not much is going to poke its head through chainlink meshes to try to wirecutter their way through chickenwire meshes, you know? Of course if you *want* to use hardwarecloth, that's ok too.

Electric is good as a 'cherry on top' but I would not rely on it as the main thing keeping predators out. It is too unreliable, and predators figure out real quickly when it's not working.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Imp]

Just yesterday morning I saw a raccoon climb straight up a chainlink fence 5' tall.

Imp- I was chasing a couple of them out of the yard, the neighbors dog was helping.

 

[Biddylover]

I'm with the first poster all three if you can. I don't know if you are building a run with roof or not but ours has metal roof (scrap but still it functions). We used 6' 4x4 posts as the main structure and we have two different sizes of hardware wire around all of it EVEN the roof lol. At first we didn't have the metal roof and didn't want a hawk or owl to get them. They free range I rely on luck for now, we have a bad hawk problem so I have been doing my yardwork while they are out

I will do an electric fence eventually in there free range area, I really must for there safety. We have foxes and also cats that neighbors never take care of.

Also just an opinion here but I noticed with my black beauty, she has three little ones a month old, she actually pecked through the chicken wire trying to get to the other hens. I fixed that real quick and did the double hardware wire and no problems since. So it isn't just the pedators you have to worry about, get pist off momma bird she is capable of getting through that chicken wire AND so are the little ones! I had to chase them when they were three days old and I am so glad Black Beauty couldn't get to me she would of tore me up. I worked in the rain to fix that problem lol

 

[lalaland]

there is an alternative to chicken wire, chain link and hardware cloth. There is what is called fencing wire - usually has 2in openings on the bottom couple of rows, and maybe 4 inch on the upper rows.

I think electric fence combined with wire fencing is the best bet. If you want to use the more expensive chain link, you won't need hardware cloth - just use chicken wire on the inside. If you have electric wire on the bottom, and maybe another strand running around 4 feet up, I would think you could get by with two foot tall chicken wire running on the inside of the chain link, or other wire fence.

don't forget the problem of predators diggin under. I just lay 4' tall wire fencing on the ground, tie it to the upright fencing with wire, and it is good to go. The grass just grows up over and through it, and if you have tacked it down, you can mow right over it (need that weed free perimeter to keep the electric fence from shorting itself out).

I haven't had any problem with hawks/eagles - have plenty of them, but my coop is a retrofitted construction trailer, and there is plenty of space under it for protection, plus I have big pines in the run, too.

Neighbors have their run in an open field, but they built a 6x6' platform in the middle about 4 feet off the ground - provides shade, hawk protection, rain shelter, and a great place to dust bathe as it is always dry. They haven't lost any birds in the last 6 years. (they have wire fencing plus electric plus ground fence ).

I do shut my birds in each night just to be extra cautious.

 

[Kansaseq]

Thanks guys, good suggestions!