Chicken Wire = Dead Chickens

[ChooksinChoppers]

Why can't they just rename the stuff? Call it Garden wire or something else..anything else so new chicken owners won't use it!
And Hardware Cloth needs to be renamed Chicken wire....there, my rant is over

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

I don't understand. What happened with your chickens and chicken wire?

 

[Erin~TheChickenLover]

Hmmm....I have always had chicken wire with no trouble. You just have to add lots of support and be sure to secure it down.
Sorry for your loss

 

[ChooksinChoppers]

Sorry! No I didnt loose any chickens! Chicken wire only keeps chickens IN doesn't keep preditors OUT . So If they renamed it people wouldnt use the stuff for chicken coops and runs.

 

[speckledhen]

Raccoons, dogs, coyotes, etc, can tear/reach through chicken wire. Read the stories here on BYC about it. It's not meant to keep anything out, just to keep chickens in. I never use it as the sole barrier, never.

 

[SC-ChickMom]

So, what do you suggest for the top of a run to keep out predators?

 

[LincTex]

Quote:
Something heavier - - I have seen dogs chew through chain link fence (yeah, I know - - I don't know how, but they did)

I am using "cattle panels" that are at TSC (tractor Supply) that are a really heavy gauge wire, almost "steel rod" heavy but not quite.

The holes are too big to be used by themselves (chickens can squeeze through) so you have to use some other wire with smaller holes. It WILL keep the dogs out!!

 

[LincTex]

Quote:
Try this for starters....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=303431

 

[Nicole01]

Quote:
We use welded wire, but I prefer hardware cloth. Welded wire is strong, but I guess weasels can get through. We keep the girls locked up behind a steel door, so we are not too worried about predators as long as the door is closed.

 

[speckledhen]

If your birds are locked inside their coop at night, then it doesn't matter if you use chicken wire on top or not. That basically keeps flying predators and cats out and birds in the fencing. If they stay out at night, you need much more attention to that aspect of the run. Most really bad predators are night stalkers, other than roaming dogs or hawks.

This pen works really well, but mine are inside before dark and safe from nighttime predators anyway.