That wire mesh is called hardware cloth. You got the name correct.
My brooder and grow-out coop both have 1/2" x 1/2" hardware cloth as a floor. Until the chicks get to a certain size, somewhere between 12 weeks and 15 weeks old, the poop falls through. But after the chickens get to a certain size the individual poops get big enough that they stack up instead of fall through. I don't know how that would work with 1/2" x 1" wire. I'd think it would still back up. 1" x 1" might work.
Because of the way it is manufactured wire mesh like hardware cloth can have sharp nibs on it. That's typically from the galvanizing process. Not all wire has that but if it does they should all be on the same side of the wire. If those nibs are facing up they can cut the chicken's feet. But if they are facing down they are not an issue. So you might carefully and with a cloth glove carefully check that out.
My brooder and grow-out coop both have 1/2" x 1/2" hardware cloth as a floor. Until the chicks get to a certain size, somewhere between 12 weeks and 15 weeks old, the poop falls through. But after the chickens get to a certain size the individual poops get big enough that they stack up instead of fall through. I don't know how that would work with 1/2" x 1" wire. I'd think it would still back up. 1" x 1" might work.
Because of the way it is manufactured wire mesh like hardware cloth can have sharp nibs on it. That's typically from the galvanizing process. Not all wire has that but if it does they should all be on the same side of the wire. If those nibs are facing up they can cut the chicken's feet. But if they are facing down they are not an issue. So you might carefully and with a cloth glove carefully check that out.