chickenwire questions

[startingaflock]

Speaking from experience, I would skip the "chicken wire" and go for the hardware cloth. I used chicken wire and the first 2 nights something ripped the chicken wire apart. Fortunately, we had put the chicken wire around an existing chainlink fence so there was backup protection!

 

[Cindy in PA]

I still never heard why 19 gauge hardware cloth is stronger than 19 gauge chickenwire. Is it because it is harder to get a hold of? I have never found hardware cloth in more than 19 gauge. My vinyl coated chicken wire is much stronger than the plain stuff. I know it will not stop dogs etc., but I spent 5 years having a vinyl garden fence for my yard recently & before that had 6 foot fence from a pheasnt farm. Either one could have had a predator push under, but the coop is locked tight at night. I am not saying there would never be a problem, just curious. To me it is no worse than having them free range.

 

[kristenm1975]

I've just finished building my 7th Catawba Converticoop and have used hardware cloth for all of them, even though it's been tempting to make it a little easier on myself and use the garden fencing as the instructions say.

I haven't had any trouble with predators using the hardware cloth. The only thing you need to watch out for is when you're fastening it down, try to get it as flat as you can (which is hard!!) otherwise there are ripples on the lower portion next to the ground where smaller, more persistent critters like weasels can get in.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

Take it from someone who has had to deal with whole flock massacares (sp?)......hardware cloth is worth every single penny!!!!!
I would list all my reasons why I prefer hardware cloth but everyone else pretty much covered it.

 

[Q9]

Okay, thank you all very much! Looks like hardware cloth is the way to go. Since the coop is fairly small, it won't be too expensive. I visited the predator/pest section, and wow, chicken wire is useless. Thanks again!