Hardware cloth for chicken run question

[jbudin2000]

What gague and size 1/4 " or 1/2" hardware cloth is best to use for run and protection unter the coop?

 

[Bridebeliever]

1/4" and 1/2" is the size, not the gauge. The higher the gauge number the weaker. So as an example, 24 gauge is not as strong as 19 gauge.

For choosing the size, I personally would go for the 1/4"...mice can get through the 1/2".

 

[jbudin2000]

Like gold, the higher the softer. I did not now this. Thank you.
Mice can get through 1/2 inch cloth. The must be Tea Cup mice, heehe.

 

[jbudin2000]

Any suggestions for seaming together sections of cloth for the run?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’m not sure they will work for ¼” wire but you might check out J-clips. You can normally find them and the tool you’ll need in the rabbit section at Tractor Supply. I’ve used them on ½” wire but they may be too wide for ¼”.

You might try hog rings or shoat rings but they might be a little too big around in diameter to cinch up tight.

It‘s a pain in the butt you can sew them together with a strand of flexible wire. You might need a person on both sides to thread it back and forth.

As a last resort take two planks and sandwich the ends between them, fixing them together with screws. Clamp the two planks together tightly and put a few screws going through the holes in the hardware cloth from both sides. It should hold really well.

 

[jbudin2000]

Excellent suggestions, thank you

 

[3baymares]

I measured it out so that I had support wood at the ends. So, every 3ft. I put a post and then did the wire straight up instead of wrapping it around.
If you are going around then you would put a support 2x4 across at that point.

 

[ffibyar]

From what I was told in one of my questions is for your chickens safety 1/2 is what you want to use.

The areas I needed to cover were just windows, vents and I made a screen door last week and used 1/2" hardware cloth.

When I did have to join my chicken wire together, I had smaller size zip ties and lashing wire laying around form doing cable and fiber work years ago. The wire was a stainless steel and I just cut short lengths and twisted them tight to seal the joint.

That is if it wasn't a place where I couldn't use a 2 by to secure the joint, like 3baymares said. My feeling is the best when it can be used.

Oh, and as weird as it sounds, I looked it up and a younger mouse can fit through a 1/2" opening. I didn't believe it but it's on the internet so it must be true!!!

 

[Urban Flock]

We used 1/4" hardware cloth on our run. Across the top where it overlapped I whip stitched the seams together with copper wire (what we had on hand). This was time consuming but easy. I don't have to worry about anything squeezing through.

 

[BBQJOE]

In some places I use screws, but mostly bailing wire.
I like things easy to take apart when the wife wants to do re-arranging.