What type/brand of hardware cloth or chicken wire is recommended to build a coop/run? I hate working with standard chicken wire. We don't have a lot of predators and our property has fencing for animals, so it wouldn't have to be super fine mesh. But one that is decent for structure, rust resistance, etc. Thanks!
hardware cloth
- Thread starter kinglerch
- Start date
I built this:
Using this:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C89QJU0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1I secured the cloth with hammer in 3/4" staples but other prefer fender washers with screws.
I ran the strips of cloth vertically and they extend out over the ground about 18-24 inches to for the predator apron. I pinned down the far edge with landscape staples then covered the edge with rocks and filled in the infield with river stone. The chickens have since kicked the river stone all over the place but the apron is still fine.
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My mantra - chicken wire keeps chickens in but does not keep predators out.
1/2 inch hardware mesh, 19ga. steel is the gold standard. It will keep out weasels, raccoons etc. If my coops are raised, I put it on the underside of the floor, use it over windows, vents etc. If you can't afford to do a large run area completely, use hardware up to 3ft then chicken wire.
Use it as an 'apron' around your coop to prevent diggers.
You may think you don't have predators but if you have chickens they will come....
1/2 inch hardware mesh, 19ga. steel is the gold standard. It will keep out weasels, raccoons etc. If my coops are raised, I put it on the underside of the floor, use it over windows, vents etc. If you can't afford to do a large run area completely, use hardware up to 3ft then chicken wire.
Use it as an 'apron' around your coop to prevent diggers.
You may think you don't have predators but if you have chickens they will come....
Most folks here think 1/2 inch hardware cloth is the holy grail. I am not one of those. I use 1/2 X 1 inch welded wire. It's thicker than HWC, easier to work with, and will last much longer.
How is it easier to work with? I can staple hardware cloth with a staple gun. I doubt I could do that with welded wire?
Easier because it's stiffer so easier to handle,
harder to cut tho, unless you use a angle grinder with a cut off wheel..
Even HC shouldn't be attached with a 'staple gun',
unless it will have firmly attached trim over the edges.
If one uses a pneumatic staple gun with 3/4" staples should work withe 1/2 x 1 WW which is probably 14-16 gauge.
I am not fond of stiffer...and yeah I am afraid of my angle grinder after I saw some face injuries from using one.. 
I attach furring strips over the edges of the hardware cloth to sandwich the ends.
I attach furring strips over the edges of the hardware cloth to sandwich the ends.
Thanks for the link..I bought some...with the coronavirus no telling when I might get it...estimated delivery date is a month away and I'm a prime member.
Maybe that's what happened to my low sugar craisins.
They've gone into shipping pergatory.
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