Chicken Wire

[Yay Chicks!]

I do believe it all depends on where you live and what predators may be in your area as well.
I built my run using chicken wire and then freaked out when I saw all the dire warnings about all the predators that would get my birds. That is until I started checking out the runs of people who lived in my neighborhood and even out a ways. They had all been using chicken wire for years with no problems.
My birds are in a secure coop at night with hardware cloth at the windows and vents. Also, their run is in a backyard with a six foot fence. And I have two loud dogs. So, that could be a factor. But my neighbors down the street, who have had birds for several years don't have a fence, or dogs, use chicken wire and have never had an issue. And I know there are raccoons in the area, though they aren't very bold.

 

[clothdiaperingmom]

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My Pet Chicken. I just saw it there the other day, the apron wire fence that is

 

[AinaWGSD]

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Compared to the cost of covering a run in 1/2" hardware cloth, I'd say it's very cheap. It is considerably cheaper than any of the heavier gauge wire that will stand up to a real effort from a raccoon or large dog. Maybe if all you were using it for was covering windows and vents on the coop it wouldn't really be cheap, but for an entire 8x10 run it's very cheap compared to the heavier stuff.

 

[FarmGirl01]

We build all of our pens with woven wire. We use chicken wire to cover tops, keep in chicks, etc. When I build something, I'm trying to keep something out not in.

 

[Baymule]

7L Farm, I understand the $$ on chicken wire. After reading the posts here, I decided on hardware cloth. My coop is 8'x7', mostly wire because of the heat and mild winters. I only have 2 hens and live in town. I have wood frames from packing crates from a Kawasaki dealership that I want to cover with hardware cloth and assemble for a yard. (Then I can get more hens, LOL) I have to buy a little at a time, then I will be able to make the yard. I never knew raccoons could chew through chicken wire.

 

[ND]

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My Pet Chicken. I just saw it there the other day, the apron wire fence that is

We found ours at Tractor Supply, and it's called apron fence ( I think), but is constructed and looks just like heavy chicken wire. It's 5ft, but made so that the bottom foot folds over and is the dig barrier. It was in a 150ft roll for $149. We're using that one roll and double stacking it and folding over at the top of our run and then we'll eventually be adding netting...

I didn't see/find any 15 gauge welded wire... all we could find was the 14 gauge, and I was able to bend the square open wide really easily... and by just fiddling with it a little, popped a few welds in the corners loose... THAT didn't take much force at all. After that, I was afraid to use to 14 gauge welded wire... I couldn't bend/pop anything loose from the apron fence. BUT, technically, I'm sure a very hungry large predator could... meh- I've had a dog literally eat/chew threw HEAVY galvanized chain link fabric before (tearing her nose up in the process), but she wanted out of that pen...and darn it, she got out!