Chicken Wire and Chicks

[BonnieBlue]

I am going to put my old small (4'x4') coop in the corner of the new run with a 8'x4' dog run attached to it, to use to get littles and bigs used to being around each other before I transition littles to a big coop. I plan on brooding the first two weeks in my garage, then moving to the "in between" coop.

My question is for the run. The dog kennel I got needs to be surrounded by a smaller wire, because littles can definitely get through the panels as designed. Is chicken wire small enough to contain chicks after their first 2-3 weeks?

I am not worried about security from predators as they will be in a run with 1/2 half inch welded wire, including a 4ft skirt. In addition, at night the coop they will be in is secure with 1 inch welded wire covered with 1/4 inch wire. I know it is secure because of the possums and stray cats that I know I had in my old yard, and my girls stayed safe. I just don't want chicks being able to get through the wire.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I feel like chicken wire has similar spacing to the bars of a dog crate. Probably best to play it safe and ziptie some hardware cloth to the outside. If you're not in a huge rush, Amazon sells some vinyl-coated versions for a reasonable price in smaller rolls.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Is chicken wire small enough to contain chicks after their first 2-3 weeks?

I would not trust bantams but full-sized fowl chicks will be OK at 3 weeks. Should be at 2 weeks but I can't remember exactly what age mine were unable to get through. Make sure they can't go under it.