Cheaper Hardware Cloth and Gravel for Coops

[SilverPhoenix]

I'm looking to fix up my coops so they are less muddy and more secure. I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions or sources for cheap 1/4" hardware cloth and gravel.

The best deals I've found on hardware cloth have still been $100 for a 100' roll. That wouldn't be too bad, but considering the sizes of my coops, I'd really like 500+ feet of it, more would be better, and of course I can't afford that on my shoestring budget.

I got a quote on gravel from a nearby landscaping place, and even getting the cheapest gravel they offer it would still come out to around $350. (I'm hoping for around 10 cubic meters or so.) Thinking of looking into crusher dust, but I've been so busy I haven't called around for quotes yet. Hoping that will be cheaper, but I guess I'll find out.

Just wondering if there's any cheaper way to get what I'm looking for. Maybe this thread will help others looking for the same things, too!

If I'm out of luck and that's as cheap as it's going to get, I'll just have to buy these things at the high prices... Eventually, anyway.

 

[FireTigeris]

I'm looking too- I had sand but now I have mud-

sand dose not work.

Not sure about gravel -

I have 1/4 cloth on my whole run and coop.

I would not use anything that might turn into concrete when wet- nor anything as fine as sand or with 'fines' included.

 

[teach1rusl]

Hmmm...well I do like the sand in my run. It's very coarse with pea gravel mixed in. In my area I pay about $16 a ton...not sure what that works out to in cubic measurements. I would not want fine sand though...

You could go with a cheaper wire (such as 1x3 or 2x4 welded wire) for the bulk of the run, and just use hardware cloth around the bottom 24 inches to prevent reach-ins????

 

[FireTigeris]

Mine was like beach sand- (in FL after all) and it became clay-like and tacky when it rains...

Its dark brown and smells of hen manure when wet.

 

[wilbilt]

I got a quote on gravel from a nearby landscaping place, and even getting the cheapest gravel they offer it would still come out to around $350. (I'm hoping for around 10 cubic meters or so.) Thinking of looking into crusher dust, but I've been so busy I haven't called around for quotes yet. Hoping that will be cheaper, but I guess I'll find out.

I am down the hill from you and $30-$35 cu yd seems to be about the going rate for gravel. Does that $350 include delivery? If so, that's not a bad price. If you have a way to haul it yourself, you could save some money as well. Of course, 10 yds would take a lot of pickup loads to get it all home.

 

[horseshowmomnv]

I am going to use decomposed granite as my base in my 250 sq feet, then when needed put a layer of sand on top. Hoping that will give us good footing.