How far up does the hardware cloth need to go?

[TooCheep]

The OP is talking about using 1/2" mesh lower and 1" mesh higher and on top. That should work fine.

 

[Kiki]

We're building our run now, and I have read about the importance of hardware cloth along the bottom of the run (as well as an apron). Where we live in suburban VA, we have foxes, raccoons, possums, and probably skunks. I bought a dog pen to put on top of our foundation- the holes are 1.75 x 3.75". Obviously, these will be covered along the bottom. Do I need to hardware cloth all the way to the top with these holes? Thank you.

If you want to keep rats and mice out cover it all.

 

[Kiki]

Yes, it will be covered with wire mesh, was hoping I could get away with 1x1"

1/2 inch

 

[featherhead007]

If it's a matter of money (And I know 1/2in mesh is more costly) What are your chickens worth to you? just saying.

 

[CurlyQuail]

But foxes and raccoons can't get through 1 x 1, so even if they climb, they couldn't get in with the looser mesh higher up, right?

I know you didn’t list it, but rats exist pretty much everywhere and they can and will get through 1”. If you don’t mind the risk, you use 1” I just personally wouldn’t want to risk it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If it's a matter of money (And I know 1/2in mesh is more costly) What are your chickens worth to you? just saying.

Hence, loss tolerance. I have 1/2" up the bottom 2' of the run and otherwise it's chain link and netting over the top. My most recent predators/pests were a coyote, which the fencing was fine against, and a squirrel in the coop (there is no longer a squirrel), which 1/2" would obviously have kept out.

 

[ADKcluckers]

I wondered about the same issue, especially since I have seen an ermine in the area in past winters and saw the aftermath of when it found an unlucky rabbit. But my thought is that since the birds are locked in the coop every night and the coop openings are all covered with 1/2" that I shouldn't have to worry as much about something climbing up past the 1/2" on the sides of the run to get through the 1" higher up during the day when they're out. I can't picture an ermine climbing into the run with 20 full size birds in the daylight when they'll all be able to easily spot it. Maybe I'm wrong there, but it just doesn't seem likely. At least not enough to justify another $200+ of 1/2" wire.

 

[M Brennen]

I know cost is always a concern, but after having a weasel decimate our flock a couple years ago, we chose to go with 1/2” both throughout the whole run. I have bird netting across the top that is 1/2” as well. I feel pretty secure enough to leave them when I go to work.

 

[sunnie7]

I build a temporary grow out pen for my guineas using a dog kennel....I originally did hardware cloth only 2’ up....I had a raccoon reach in and get two of them. So we added more all the way up on the side with the roosts. We also have lots of traps set! I’ve got 4 so far.