How good is chicken wire?

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Most hardware cloth is metal, not plastic, and is usually a heavier gauge than plastic. The plastic stuff can be easier to work with, and can be good at holding chickens in, but most (not all) will decay in sunlight. As to keeping a predator out? Well it depends on the particular predator, and also on the method the mesh (whatever kind) is attached. You can have super heavy duty wire, but if not firmly and strongly attacked to the frame, provides no more protection than does a poorer quality wire.

 

[Lbrad7]

You know this brings up a thought...why in the world do they even MAKE chicken wire??? It is totally worthless in keeping predators out. I guess the art projects mentioned in the other posts is about all its good for. I think they need to change the name to Art Wire or coon floss.

 

[silkiechicken]

It's probably like why they call bird netting bird netting. It's meant to keep birds out/in. So chicken wire is to keep chickens in/out. Hog wire I assume is for containing hogs. What they need to market is a coon wire. That might be better!

 

[Ahab]

What about chicken wire (to keep birds in) reinforced by (to keep predators out) two runs of electric-fence tape (one at ground level, one at fence-top level)?

When I look at the cost of fencing a permanent poultry pasture, that seems to come out ahead of electrified netting, or smallish-mesh welded or woven wire--which, to reliably exclude climbers like raccoons, needs supplemental electrification anyway.

Of course, as with all schemes that look good on paper, this one likely has some major drawbacks I can't quite see.