Hardware Cloth?

[TomZilla43]

Hiya LilmissChick, and . Are Amazon deliveries an option for you? Because you can beat the heck out of the hardware cloth prices that you are currently looking at by shopping there. We have a Prime membership and don't pay shipping but even if you have to pay shipping I feel like you could come out considerably ahead. Anyhoo best of luck with your coop build

 

[123RedBeard]

The stucco wire is simular to poultry netting ... usually 20-22 gauge wire twisted together ... 1"-2" "holes" octogon mesh ... the "problem" with this type of fencing to keep predators out is the wire is really quite wimpy, and gives plenty of room for critter to get its mouth on and bite/rip it out ... or a dog sized critter just runs through it like a closed screen door!

"Welded" wire is generally stronger than "twisted wire" ... and most come in heavier duty wire sizes ... "wire gauge sizes" are opposite of what most people think ... smaller number, is BIGGER wire diameter ... most common for welded wire fences is 12-16 gauge wire with spacing of 1"X2'-3", or 2"X4" openings ...

Hardware cloth is 1/2" or 1/4" square mesh ... and 19 - 27 gauge wires ... while generally smaller diameter wire, it has welds much closer together, and harder for critters to get a tooth in to bite/rip it out/off ...

So ... with all that said ... "IF" you plan on locking your chickens in the coop each and every night ... then you could get away with hardware cloth on just the coop portion, and welded wire on the run area, although if small daytime critters like weasels and rats are a concern ... I would just cover the while run with hardware cloth.

Keep shopping for better price ... maybe even on the "mainland" could be worth a trip, combined with something else???

 

[Duckworth]

If you decide to make all or part of just one side, ideally the winter windward side, of a solid material, like plywood or wood fencing slats, that could end up being less costly and would provide a windbreak. I don’t know how much snow and cold wind you get, but I built my run with one solid side to both manage costs and offer some shelter in the run from the wind.

We have raccoons, opossums, foxes, hawks, owls, snakes, cats, and dogs as potential predators. I have hardware cloth all the way up and over the roof of my run. This may be overkill, but our neighbor lost all of his chickens to a fox and my ducks remain alive and safe. The roof is also covered by a heavy duty tarp to keep things a little drier, since we have rain and snow to contend with. This cuts down on the attention my girls get from airborn predators and is an extra layer of protection from raccoons and opossums who are expert climbers. I notice that my dogs’ claws could do damage to the hardware cloth down low, so I sealed the edge of the hardware cloth along the bottom of the run with wood trim and attached some 24” welded wire fencing I had lying around to pieces of 2x4 screwed to the the outside of the run so that the fencing sits about two inches out from the hardware cloth, making it harder for my dogs to get to the HW cloth. I put screen door grates on the lower parts of the doors for the same reason. My run has a solid surface floor, built on joists sitting on concrete deck supports because of the city code where we live, so my build may be quite different from yours. The picture was taken before I added the WW around the bottom and before I put another door grate on the side clean out door. My duck house is attached to, not inside my run.

 

[aart]

I live in Canada on Vancouver Island

Does amazon ship there?
That's the cheapest place to get HC....
Probably not gonna find the 4' x 50' rolls in any store, even here in the USA.

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[LilMissChick]

Does amazon ship there?
That's the cheapest place to get HC....
Probably not gonna find the 4' x 50' rolls in any store, even here in the USA.

Welcome to BYC!
Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!
View attachment 1676159

Hi Aart!
That was a great idea the amazon prime. I just bought all the hardware cloth I’ll need for $187. Thank you so much for the suggestion!

And I updated my personal information

 

[LilMissChick]

If you decide to make all or part of just one side, ideally the winter windward side, of a solid material, like plywood or wood fencing slats, that could end up being less costly and would provide a windbreak. I don’t know how much snow and cold wind you get, but I built my run with one solid side to both manage costs and offer some shelter in the run from the wind.

We have raccoons, opossums, foxes, hawks, owls, snakes, cats, and dogs as potential predators. I have hardware cloth all the way up and over the roof of my run. This may be overkill, but our neighbor lost all of his chickens to a fox and my ducks remain alive and safe. The roof is also covered by a heavy duty tarp to keep things a little drier, since we have rain and snow to contend with. This cuts down on the attention my girls get from airborn predators and is an extra layer of protection from raccoons and opossums who are expert climbers. I notice that my dogs’ claws could do damage to the hardware cloth down low, so I sealed the edge of the hardware cloth along the bottom of the run with wood trim and attached some 24” welded wire fencing I had lying around to pieces of 2x4 screwed to the the outside of the run so that the fencing sits about two inches out from the hardware cloth, making it harder for my dogs to get to the HW cloth. I put screen door grates on the lower parts of the doors for the same reason. My run has a solid surface floor, built on joists sitting on concrete deck supports because of the city code where we live, so my build may be quite different from yours. The picture was taken before I added the WW around the bottom and before I put another door grate on the side clean out door. My duck house is attached to, not inside my run.

View attachment 1676110

This is the first draw of our plans. They have changed a little, this one was 4’x16’, but we have changed it to be 4’x20’. As well this simple drawing doesn’t show that it’s a sloped roof (or the actual roof itself). The middle part of the coop where it shows the small square door has been changed. That whole wall panel will be a door. And there is a people sized door from inside the run as well. We will be having the main run on the ground itself, not concreted. I plan to dig down and put wire into the ground about 8”-1’ to deter predators. Luckily we dont live in a place with a lot of snakes. Though we do have little lizards which I imagine the chickens will eat on sight.

It’s not 100% to scale as we already bought windows for the front side that are not quite the same and it doesn’t show all the ventilation areas, which we will have many.

We are going to start digging the unground wire today, and get the concrete for the posts to go in etc too.

I am super excited, and really appreciate everyone’s help!

 

[ERRJRDN]

Good luck with your coop build! I see you got your hardware cloth, good deal, I was going to suggest that you go all hardware cloth for predator protection. I built my coop to be a small Fort Knox, my neighbors have lost chickens to foxes and raccoons, and I didn't want that to happen to mine. Can't wait to see some pictures of your coop build in progress! Good luck!

 

[LilMissChick]

Hiya LilmissChick, and . Are Amazon deliveries an option for you? Because you can beat the heck out of the hardware cloth prices that you are currently looking at by shopping there. We have a Prime membership and don't pay shipping but even if you have to pay shipping I feel like you could come out considerably ahead. Anyhoo best of luck with your coop build

 

[LilMissChick]

Hi @ERRJRDN!

Yes, I just saw you and Aart mention the amazon prime, I signed up today and bought everything I need for $187. So much cheaper. That was a great suggestion you guys had!

Thank you

 

[IamRainey]

Spend the money on hardware cloth (the heavyest gauge you can find) OR on feeding rats, replacing chickens and cleaning up bloody messes. And besides rats and raccoons in BC you'll have to protect from eagles and probably hawks as well. I don't know about the island but are you sure there aren't bear?

Of your potential predators I'd take the raccoons most seriously. They're smart, relentless, incredibly agile and can slip through spots 3x smaller than you'd ever imagine. Besides that strong hardware cloth, be sure you have secure latches on all the openings to your run, coop, egg box and feed storage area and that all of them are further secured with carabiner clips.

Look at it this way: hardware cloth is a one time expense for 24/7/365 protection. Next year you will have forgotten what you spent but your chickens will still be healthy, happy and providing eggs in return for the protection you've given them.

PS I have occasionally lived in West Van just up from the Horseshoe Bay ferry and Whytecliff Park and I've dealt with all of this myself. Plus, I'm always happy to be reminded of those lovely days and the most glorious spot and the nicest people on the face of the earth. Thanks for the happy Sunday morning memories!