Hardware cloth

[Laurie Williams]

Hello,

I just had a huge coop and run built but I just realized the hardware cloth is only 23g. Should I replace it with 19g? Its 1/4” and we have raccoons.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Hello,

I just had a huge coop and run built but I just realized the hardware cloth is only 23g. Should I replace it with 19g? Its 1/4” and we have raccoons.

Ouch! Instead of tearing it out, is there an option to add welded wire on top of it as a backup? Raccoons are determined @#$%^&*'s.

 

[Laurie Williams]

Ouch! Instead of tearing it out, is there an option to add welded wire on top of it as a backup? Raccoons are determined @#$%^&*'s.

Yes, this is exactly what I’m thinking. I’m hearing the 1/4” is hard to get in 19g, so would adding 1/2” over it be okay? Also, would I have to go all the way up, or could I stop at 4’ high? The coop is 8’.

 

[TooCheep]

1/4" is overkill. Just use 1/2". It is much cheaper and works well, including against raccoons.

 

[WingItRanch]

1/2" is perfect. No need for 1/4. My coop and run is wrapped with it and it has deterred everything from foxes to raccoons to bobcats.

Mine is 19 gauge, though. Does the 23 gauge feel flimsy to you?

 

[Mountain Roost]

What about going over it with 2in x 4in goat wire fencing? That would add some durability.

 

[WingItRanch]

I think that would work fine! Especially if you have some handy. The strength of the goat fencing alongside the 23g cloth should be plenty secure for predators.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Yes, this is exactly what I’m thinking. I’m hearing the 1/4” is hard to get in 19g, so would adding 1/2” over it be okay? Also, would I have to go all the way up, or could I stop at 4’ high? The coop is 8’.

My run is built with 19 gauge 1/2” wire. It hurts (literally; I’m still coveted with scars ) to think of applying that directly over the quarter-inch.

Two options that I am thinking of:

(1) Put a stronger although more open welded wire directly over the existing quarter inch; so two layers. (Somewhere on BYC there is guidance about which ideally would be on the outside and which on the inside.) Something like this; no spacing between the two types of wire: https://www.lowes.com/pd/GARDEN-CRA...Fencing-with-Mesh-Size-2-in-x-4-in/5013593849

(2) Or (ouch!), remove the quarter inch, saving it for something else (there’s always something else), and replacing from scratch with the 19-gauge half inch.

 

[Laurie Williams]

My run is built with 19 gauge 1/2” wire. It hurts (literally; I’m still coveted with scars ) to think of applying that directly over the quarter-inch.

Two options that I am thinking of:

(1) Put a stronger although more open welded wire directly over the existing quarter inch; so two layers. (Somewhere on BYC there is guidance about which ideally would be on the outside and which on the inside.) Something like this; no spacing between the two types of wire: https://www.lowes.com/pd/GARDEN-CRA...Fencing-with-Mesh-Size-2-in-x-4-in/5013593849

(2) Or (ouch!), remove the quarter inch, saving it for something else (there’s always something else), and replacing from scratch with the 19-gauge half inch.

Will probably go right over it. Do you think I have to go higher than four feet? Would raccoons climb up the cloth to where they could eat through the 23g?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Will probably go right over it. Do you think I have to go higher than four feet? Would raccoons climb up the cloth to where they could eat through the 23g?

Could they? Yes. Would they? Depends on how hungry or determined they are. My local raccoons visit but have other places to go so they don't put a lot of effort into testing the fence it seems.