Fencing Size/Gauge Question

[KellyGwen]

I can bend it, can't rip it.. but then again, I value my teeth more than your average raccoon does!

I just feel safer with the welded wire... especially in a year, after the chicken wire gets rusty and weaker. The welded wire will hold up much better to the elements.

Oh well, I'll have both!

 

[Chirpy]

The very best predator proof wire is hardware cloth.

Welded or woven wire is the next best. When using welded wire you need to add the 1" chicken wire as a skirt around the bottom two feet AND bury it into the ground at least 15-18 inches. It helps to also bend the bottom of that wire out about six inches.

What you've done so far is superb!!

POC - hate to break your bubble but dogs and raccoons have absolutely no problem getting through chicken wire.

Also - the reason for skirting the 2x4 welded wire with the smaller chicken wire is so that the chickens don't stick their heads out and get eaten by a predator (as happened to my own chicken by my own dog) and so raccoons can't get their hands in the coop and literally pull the chicken out through the 2x4 holes.

I figure that people should build the best they can afford to stop predators before they get even an idea they may have a free lunch. If someone is tight on money (like us) there are ideas to help make your run predator proof that don't cost so much.

 

[KellyGwen]

Quote:
The welded I wanted to get (1x2) was $200 for 100 feet! I almost had a stroke! As it is this fence is my birthday present...

I am going to bury a skirt of the 1x1 chicken wire... It's cheaper to replace when it rots then this welded wire. I need this stuff to last!! I'll have to price the hardware cloth too.

If you can't tell from my coop I'm used to housing horses, not chickens! My chickens have a stable! Hahaha!

 

[kbarrett]

We're also in the construction phase of our coop & run. Someone I work with raises turkey's and told me about his setup. On his most recently built run he took silver outdoor paint and a roller brush and went over his chicken wire, he said a little paint goes a long ways. His wire has been up 3 years and looks brand new..no rust. That's what I'm going to try with mine.