Fencing

[sdm1908]

What's better? Having a chicken wire fence or having a wooden fence?

 

[6of6chicks]

I guess it depends. How are you using the fencing and what are you trying to keep in/out?

 

[sdm1908]

Trying to keep out raccoons and possums as well as foxes and it's going to be used in order to keep them in a certain area so that they can free range. Also I'm using it so that they won't be able to fly over!

 

[6of6chicks]

Hmmm - okay, here's my two cents.

I just read a thread about a chicken that was snatched off a 6 ft. fence by a dog. So if you've got breeds that can fly well I wouldn't count on the fence keeping them in (unless you clip their wings).

Raccoons and foxes can easily climb wooden fences. Raccoons are a nocturnal threat, but foxes will attack in the daytime. These threads have more info about foxes:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/216194/how-high-of-fence-can-a-fox-jump
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...nce-trying-to-figure-out-my-predator-in-ne-ga

Raccoons (and just about everything else) can easily rip through chicken wire. That stuff is only meant to keep chickens in and won't keep anything else out. 1/2 inch hardware cloth is MUCH safer than chicken wire.

Any fencing is better than none, and a wooden fence would be FAR better than chicken wire. But I think you're going to have some risk with free ranging no matter what. The best you can do is be aware of everything that wants to eat your chickens and then predator proof the area to the best of your ability.

Good luck!

 

[iwiw60]

The only thing that will keep out raccoons and foxes is 1/2" hardware cloth...ONLY! Using plain chicken wire is a waste of money...they can rip it apart like it was butter...trust me. Raccoon and fox are also relentless diggers, you should "apron" your hardware cloth, something like this:



http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/11/coop-security-hardware-cloth-vs-chicken.html




Here are some links that will better explain how to deal with raccoons and foxes:

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/05/chickens-predators-myth-of-supervised.html


Hope this helps you!!

 

[iwiw60]

Quote: Agreed...knowing you have that variety of predators in your area if it were me? I would never allow them to free-range...I've put too much blood, sweat and tears into my chicken venture to see them ripped apart by a scumbag predator...JMHO...

 

[sdm1908]

Hmmm - okay, here's my two cents.

I just read a thread about a chicken that was snatched off a 6 ft. fence by a dog. So if you've got breeds that can fly well I wouldn't count on the fence keeping them in (unless you clip their wings).

Raccoons and foxes can easily climb wooden fences. Raccoons are a nocturnal threat, but foxes will attack in the daytime. These threads have more info about foxes:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/216194/how-high-of-fence-can-a-fox-jump
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...nce-trying-to-figure-out-my-predator-in-ne-ga

Raccoons (and just about everything else) can easily rip through chicken wire. That stuff is only meant to keep chickens in and won't keep anything else out. 1/2 inch hardware cloth is MUCH safer than chicken wire.

Any fencing is better than none, and a wooden fence would be FAR better than chicken wire. But I think you're going to have some risk with free ranging no matter what. The best you can do is be aware of everything that wants to eat your chickens and then predator proof the area to the best of your ability.

Good luck!

Thank you! This was soo helpful! I think the wooden fence is going to be the best!