Hardware Cloth -- Wire or Plastic?

[HEChicken]

I discovered the plastic stuff last year and bought a roll. I love it - cheap, lightweight, easy to work with. However I am using it to fence in my vegie garden so the chooks and rabbits can't get in. I wouldn't trust it to keep my chickens safe (I also live in an urban area and have never seen a raccoon around here but wouldn't trust that one won't eventually discover the possibility of a chicken dinner, even in town. I've seen raccoons in some VERY urban areas over the years). The other thing about the plastic stuff is that sunlight degrades plastic really quickly. Since I am only using it part-year (taking it down when the vegies are done for the year), I hope to get several years use out of it, but nothing like the length of time I could use wire for. If you don't mind the idea of having to replace it every year, you could give it a try, but you might find that after 2-4 years, it would have been cheaper to just get the wire.

 

[gryeyes]

I do use the plastic fencing BUT AS A SECOND LAYER inside or outside the fencing, then I ALSO put the 3 foot wide/high hardware cloth along the bottom of the fence. The plastic fencing material is a sort of visual barrier and keeps the chickens from poking their heads out and the hardware cloth keeps the critters from reaching IN to snatch at chickens. So my fence is a three-layer thing, with the larger welded wire from ground to six feet, the plastic from ground to four feet, and the hardware cloth from the ground to 3 feet.

 

[grandmaof5]

Quote:
If you have rabbits and squirrels, I would guess you'd have raccoons as well; maybe they are very good at not being noticed? Raccoons and skunks are very good urban dwellers. Even though you don't see them, be cautious. They would find your chickens very quickly.

 

[Peep_Show]

When I lived in the city, I didn't realize we had raccoons until I put in a fish pond. All fish gone and an oily film on the water.... The raccoons live in the sewers!

Even if you have to scrimps a bit, the wire is the way to go... and the closer woven the better. Afterall, what would it cost to replace your flock AND the torn plastic mesh? Easier to pay once than buy twice.....

 

[Keri78]

I was tempted tooo...same situation but I heard that the plastic will dry rot fast and if you have to replace it every yr. or so then what's the savings really? Sorry. I like saving money too!

 

[Whitewater]

Yeah, you guys are right and I knew that even when I asked the question . . . I just can't quite believe that out of a $350 coop+run combo, $200 of it is going to be the fencing!

But the health and safety of my birds comes first . . . thankfully in theory our coop doesn't have to be finished until the end of June (which might be a scramble, but I worked in theatre building sets and so on, I am used to building well but quickly if necessary!) so we have some time to save up.

With all the new technology nowadays you'd think somebody would come up with a cheaper yet equally strong substance we could all use to keep costs down! LOL!


Whitewater

 

[CityChook]

Hey whitewater, if it makes you feel any better, I'd bet T.H.R.I.L.L.E.D. if I was able to build my coop/run for $350. You did good!!! And for what it's worth, that hardware wire is expensive because it's worth it. Good choice!

 

[2DogsFarm]

Right choice, Whitewater!

I used to live in Chicago - less than 2 blocks from Wrigley Field - it doesn't get much more Urban that that!
We had raccoons & possum in our backyard & they were BIG ones!
There were coyote that lived on a nearby golf course and wandered across Lake Shore Drive.
Expanding suburbs annexing land force these predators into urban areas.

HEchicken - thanks for the idea.
I was wondering how I'd fence off the veggie garden from the chooks!
They are doing a #1 job of tilling in the compost for me right now, but I doubt I can convince them to let the seedlings alone once the garden is planted.

 

[KelliV]

I haven't used the plastic - but I thought about it... for about 2 seconds. I had used 1/4" galvanized hardware cloth in the past. It was no match for 2 pitbulls.

I currently have 2' of 1/2" hardware cloth on the bottom of my coop, but I am building out and will be using it for the entire coop, plus redoing the existing coop that has chicken wire. To me, the cost is worth not losing the birds.

 

[mike67909]

Quote:
I agree with this. But if it for a run and you lock the birds up at night i would use the plastic stuff to save money.