Hardware cloth versus welded wire.

[CoopsNPoops]

I prefer hardware cloth. The thicker gauge the better, obviously. Much less chance for smaller preditors (snakes) and rodents to get in. Ive never used welded wire, but it seems to have bigger openings than the hardware cloth. I dont have a run as my chickens are free range, but i do use hardware cloth on my brooder box and inside the coop. Nuttin gettin through that crap. Ive also seen people spray paint it black on their runs and it becomes almost invisible from a distance.

 

[CoopsNPoops]

How are you attaching the wire?

I as since pulling a whole sheet loose should not happen.

I use a heavy duty staple gun. I can hardy even pry the staples out with pliers, lol.

 

[swampfox440]

This would be great because we are dealing with buffalo gnats here and they are brutal. I've lost two chickens to these things. I'd love to include screen somehow. I don't have any on hand right now though. Have to get some.

I should have added the fact that you can use any combination you want of wire within reason the trick is to keep the skeeters out we have gallinippers here don"t think I spelled that right But they are huge skeeters 1/2" -3/4" long

 

[aart]

How are you attaching the wire?

I as since pulling a whole sheet loose should not happen.

Exactly!
Even appropriate wire is only as good as it's attached.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I use a heavy duty staple gun. I can hardy even pry the staples out with pliers, lol.

I was asking the OP....but anyhoo...

I use a pneumatic (air) stapler with 1" long staples to hold things in place then go over that with 1x(whatever fits) boards screwed to the structure. After that I attach layers of wire together using "cage clips" or "J-clips".

Staples without some additional securing method tend to become loose as the wood shrinks and expands over time.
I do see the fender washers and screws in the picture.....I just think there needs to be more holding the wire layers together as well as holding to the wood.

 

[NatJ]

We already bought some welded wire, but I've seen a lot of people on here talk about hardware cloth. So in your opinion, which is better?

What you bought will be fine, and is stronger than what is commonly recommended. (So it probably weighs more and costs more.)

You bought 16 gauge, which has thicker (stronger) wires then the 19 gauge hardware cloth many people use. Yours will be harder to bend into shape, but also harder for a predator to bend OUT of shape.

Many people recommend 1/2" by 1/2" holes, but your wire with 1/2" by 1" holes should be fine too. If something cannot get through 1/2", then it cannot get through a hole that is 1/2" by anything else.

What you bought has wires that are welded together.
Hardware cloth also has wires welded together.
So they are basically the same thing.

 

[BesideStillWaters]

How are you attaching the wire?

I as since pulling a whole sheet loose should not happen.

I cut the sides of the sheet so there is a lot of wire poking out and then wrap the wire around the existing wire. I guess I didn't wrap it enough times and he just pushed it out. I didn't know how strong raccoons are when I did this; I thought it would be like keeping out a house cat. Lesson learned! It's like this:

 

[ILoveDaffy]

We have raccoons here too, and hardware cloth is what our coop is made of. It is a chicken tractor. The raccoons haven't been able to get in yet.

 

[CoopsNPoops]

I was asking the OP....but anyhoo...

I use a pneumatic (air) stapler with 1" long staples to hold things in place then go over that with 1x(whatever fits) boards screwed to the structure. After that I attach layers of wire together using "cage clips" or "J-clips".

Staples without some additional securing method tend to become loose as the wood shrinks and expands over time.
I do see the fender washers and screws in the picture.....I just think there needs to be more holding the wire layers together as well as holding to the wood.

I didn't see where you replied to anyone, I just got the notification and assumed it was OP who replied to my post. I didnt even look.

 

[aart]

I cut the sides of the sheet so there is a lot of wire poking out and then wrap the wire around the existing wire. I guess I didn't wrap it enough times and he just pushed it out.

It's bent over but not really wrapped around that I can see.
Raccoons are crazy strong.