Chicken Wire vs other types of netting

[vicky]

Hi All,
We're about to start work on our coop and run.

The run seemed the easiest thing to start on, but I've been reading that chicken wire isn't very strong for predators. Although i don't think we have the same sorts of baddies you guys have in America.

The worst thing I think we have here are possums, bush turkeys, and an occaissional fox. Also I'm worried about how to control rats - is that just down to making sure the coop is cleaned frequently.

So I guess the run is basically going to be to stop them from flying away, so the strength of the wire shouldn't matter too much.

Any help would be awesome! Thanks.

 

[cmom]

I use chicken wire. Originally I used netting, now I use chicken wire with the same posts that I used with the netting. I have the wire steaked down. So far no problems and I live where we have quite a few preditors. The run off the coop has wire on top and they run in there if anything frightens them.

 

[simba49450]

i have mine in a dog kennel with chicken wire around that so i know nothing will get in, or you can use hardware cloth for the near to ground stuff that even mice cant get through. myself when it comes to preds that so far has worked. im paranoid when it comes to preds etc. you should have your chickens vaccinated for any other stray stuff thats comes through just to be safe. there are not too many people have thier chickens vaccinated and thats how diseases are spread etc. you can never be too careful, think like if i was a pred how would i get in and enjoy a fresh chicken dinner, thinking like that you should be okay

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

My coops were clean, and I lost 2 sets of baby chicks from rats. I trapped and poisioned 10 rats. The last rat was caught a week ago.

Dont leave food out at night, make sure that the food is in metal containers so that rodents cant get to it.

If you have baby chicks I would use 1/4" hardwire cloth. Otherwise for my adults I use 1inch chicken wire.

 

[vicky]

Thanks for posting that image cmom. Very helpful.

We have a large retaining wall in our backyard which will form one wall of the run. We also have masses of bamboo so that will make our frame and I think we'll use chicken wire but we'll see.

Just getting my brooder box sorted out now. Then I'll start construction on the coop and run. Will definitely post photos of the whole process.

 

[sugarbush]

My brother lives in Melborne. Don't you have snakes to worry about? How about dingos? Start with the chicken wire and upgrade as needed.

 

[vicky]

Oh dear! That' terrible about the rats. We'll be keeping our chicks inside for the first few weeks - until they're big enough to go out in the cold. It's still wintery here now - but it is heating up quickly.

 

[vicky]

oh bugger, I forgot about snakes.

hehe... and the sharks, and jellyfish, and huge killer wasps.

But snakes can get into anything.... I think I'm just going to have to wing it with them.

Any idea on how to keep snakes away?

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
They were in with their 2 mothers. Now Im going to be keeping the broody hens in hardwire cloth pens. Im still furious about that whole ordeal.

 

[Chick_a_dee]

Quote:
I've seen rats chew through metal feed bins at a horse stable... metal won't always hold off vermin.