Hardware cloth mesh size

[pieville]

Do you have weasels or mink in your area?
Weasels can fit through any hole about the size of a quarter.

No weasels or minks.

 

[pieville]

You have raccoons. One inch mesh is large enough for a raccoon to stick its hand into your run and pull parts of chickens out.

Ouch - “parts” of chickens.

 

[aart]

South Jersey

Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[McChooky]

The cheapest way to prevent diggers is setting rows of 12" cinderblock's in a trench before you build your coop instead of using hardware cloth .I strongly advise you use 1/2" hardware cloth on your runs to keep out snakes and weasels.The last thing I want is a snake in my chicken house.

 

[Spitman66]

Ive wrapped the bottom 2' with hardware cloth, including going down and out 6" around the perimeter of the run then switch he'd over to the larger fencing.

 

[neo71665]

Coons and possums can both reach in 1 x 1/2 inch wire fence and kill a bird.

 

[WestTNriverrat]

You can always paint the wire to make it less visible if you are concerned about the looks. I’m from the south so nothing looks better to me than 5 strand motto barb wire on brand new red t-post stretched tight enough to play a tune, but since that won’t contain chickens I can’t recommend it.

 

[kathlynr8]

Im jumping on to this post and wondering.. Is 1/4" even better than 1/2" ? Thanks!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Im jumping on to this post and wondering.. Is 1/4" even better than 1/2" ? Thanks!

It depends. What is the wire gauge and what are you trying to exclude? Most 1/4" HWC is 23 ga and 1/2" is... 19 ga, I think, so 1/4" is a thinner weaker wire. However if you're primarily excluding small mice and small snakes, 1/4" may be necessary to keep them out.

 

[3KillerBs]

Im jumping on to this post and wondering.. Is 1/4" even better than 1/2" ? Thanks!

1/4" is usually finer, weaker wire so good for snakes and vermin but not good against serious predators.