Chicken wire

[Dongoul]

I recently finished my run wrapping it in chicken wire. Has anyone out there had any failures with chicken wire. I don't know if I should start over with wire cloth or make a second wrap with wire cloth. I heard negative comment s on chicken wire and am new to all this, any suggestions our there? Or should I leave it alone as it is? Slightly confused and exhausted from wrapping the chicken wire.

 

[Michael OShay]

You should not use chicken wire. There are a number of predators out there that have no trouble tearing into chicken wire (raccoons, opossums, etc.) and others that can go right through the mesh (weasels, rats, minks). I have personally had (many years ago) an opossum tear into one of my chicken wire (1" mesh) cages. Since then I have always used 1/2 " hardware cloth and have never had a predator get into my coops or cages.

 

[Dongoul]

I'm thinking of changing to cloth wire instead just a pain to take out all the chicken wire, what do you use to secure the cloth, I used u shaped nail staples for the wire

 

[seann]

I'd replace all with hardware cloth 1/2". Secure with screw and washer + staples, not just staples.

 

[Dongoul]

Should I go over the chicken wire already there with the cloth wire

 

[Michael OShay]

I'd replace all with hardware cloth 1/2". Secure with screw and washer + staples, not just staples.

I'm thinking of changing to cloth wire instead just a pain to take out all the chicken wire, what do you use to secure the cloth, I used u shaped nail staples for the wire

Screws and washers are the most secure and for that reason a lot of chicken owners like seann use them. I have always just used galvanized fence staples because they are fast and easy to hammer in and have not ever had a problem with predators pulling them out. Which way you want to go is strictly up to you.

 

[Michael OShay]

Screws and washers are the most secure and for that reason a lot of chicken owners like seann use them. I have always just used galvanized fence staples because they are fast and easy to hammer in and have not ever had a problem with predators pulling them out. Which way you want to go is strictly up to you.

Just an added thought, if you do use just galvanized fence staples make sure you use plenty of them. Space them close together.

 

[Stiggy]

Just put the hardwire cloth over top of it and secure it well, it seems silly to take the wire off to put others on. think of it as making the holes smaller. but deff with the hard wire fence