How much hardware cloth is needed

[Mom of Chickens]

I have 2 9.8x13.1x6.6 runs and I would like to cover them both with hardware cloth. I have 3 -100'x4' -1/4 inch hardware cloth, is it enough or do I need more. Thank you

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I have 2 9.8x13.1x6.6 runs and I would like to cover them both with hardware cloth. I have 3 -100'x4' -1/4 inch hardware cloth, is it enough or do I need more. Thank you

Is this 9.8’W x 13.1’L x 6.6’H?

If so, and you’re covering the “ceiling” as well (I hope you are), think of the covering as “stripes”: up the front wall, over the top, and down the back, which would be approximately 6.6 + 9.8 + 6.6 = about ~23-24 feet long. Each stripe is 4’ wide, so you’d use 4 stripes to cover 13.1’ long, with a lot of trimming on that last piece. Could you go up to 16’ long instead of 13.1’? Your chickens would appreciate it.

Anyway, that’s one 100’ roll. Then the two ends: 6.6 + 9.8 (there’s that pesky overage again, meaning more than a multiple of 4’.) So perhaps run them side-to-side, so two stripes of about 10’ per end (20’), or 40’ for both ends.

Then the aprons, which would take about 56’-60’ ish.

Anyway, you have plenty! Good luck. I’m still healing from trimming the hardware cloth.

 

[DobieLover]

I have 2 9.8x13.1x6.6 runs and I would like to cover them both with hardware cloth. I have 3 -100'x4' -1/4 inch hardware cloth, is it enough or do I need more. Thank you

The 1/4" hardware cloth is extremely weak. You should upgrade to 1/2".

 

[FunClucks]

I liked to buy the 6 ft tall 100 ft rolls off of amazon and weave the edges together with 20 gage galvanized steel wire. I used pliers, rubberized gardening gloves, and tin snips / industrial shears to cut and weave it all together. 1/2" hardware cloth is the way to go, predators can get through the 1/4" stuff, it's not as stong.