Coop Advice 1/4 or 1/2 and buying

[pdw]

Depends on your predator. 1/4 is to keep out those that can squeeze into small spaces: weasels, mink, martens, snakes, rats, mice. It's also to keep raccoons and skunks from reaching in. 1/2 is fine if you only have larger predators, from what I've read and experienced.

1/4" Is ALWAYS the better choice in my area because we have an occasional rattle snake

 

[pdw]

IMO, yes, it's more than adequate.
We're talking about a predator apron; an anti-dig apron. I also use it to secure my run. No way is a weasel getting in. That is the only predator that is going to do any damage. Mice won't get in either.
A baby garter snake will get in. But the poor thing is going to end up dead. I've rescued 2 baby garter snakes from my flock.

A Faily large Lizard will fit through a 1/2 "gage I have had one do it .We had a baby rattle snake in the front yard that as smaller than that Lizard and if we had wandered to the coop definitely would have fit through also

 

[Aunt Angus]

1/4" Is ALWAYS the better choice in my area because we have an occasional rattle snake

YIKES.

 

[rosemarythyme]

One other thing to keep in mind is the gauge of the wire. Most 1/4" HWC is thinner than 1/2", so I go with 1/2". 1/2" is sufficient to keep out rats in most cases, I'd only go down to 1/4" if mice were a major factor.