perchie.girl
RIP 1953-2021
Not @WalnutHill here but speaking as one who IS experienced in putting up fence for very strong animals. I have had predators go through Chain-link properly set up chain-link. Tension bars, bottom wire, Even pipe top and bottom.
Chicken wire stretched and fastened properly is impressive in the whole with regards to strength and resilience. So is Paper, by the way. Same goes for ANY wire you want to use for fencing. It should be stretched evenly and supported properly in order to achieve its most efficient state. That means not over stretching it as well. You want spring back
BUT... You have to look at the weakest links. the individual components... Wire that is Nineteen gauge is .040 diameter at best... *(chicken wire) if it was made in china its .035 diameter... All before Galvanizing... Which only protects the wire from the elements. The spacing on that wire is 1/2 to 1 inch depending on what you buy.
A determined dog will Hit the wire with enough force to stretch it... even well stretched wire will give more... Then Hook nails in and pull... in a digging motion. Now the wire has enough bend in it for Tooth action to take place. Once that happens those teeth are like wire cutters. Raccoons dont use blunt force they have guile and hands... And the same amount of determination.
Hardware cloth is denser and can be supported more evenly .... but its weakest link too is at least sixteen gauge which is .068 in diameter... Harder to slam into and stretch out... harder to get teeth into...
and for those who want stats and reference materials Look up Modulus of elasticity in steel wire and wire gauges. I used Machinery's Handbook in my day.... but there is alot on the internet these days.
Wire gauges for what its worth the larger the number the finer the wire. same goes for sheet metal... My area of engineering.
deb
Chicken wire stretched and fastened properly is impressive in the whole with regards to strength and resilience. So is Paper, by the way. Same goes for ANY wire you want to use for fencing. It should be stretched evenly and supported properly in order to achieve its most efficient state. That means not over stretching it as well. You want spring back
BUT... You have to look at the weakest links. the individual components... Wire that is Nineteen gauge is .040 diameter at best... *(chicken wire) if it was made in china its .035 diameter... All before Galvanizing... Which only protects the wire from the elements. The spacing on that wire is 1/2 to 1 inch depending on what you buy.
A determined dog will Hit the wire with enough force to stretch it... even well stretched wire will give more... Then Hook nails in and pull... in a digging motion. Now the wire has enough bend in it for Tooth action to take place. Once that happens those teeth are like wire cutters. Raccoons dont use blunt force they have guile and hands... And the same amount of determination.
Hardware cloth is denser and can be supported more evenly .... but its weakest link too is at least sixteen gauge which is .068 in diameter... Harder to slam into and stretch out... harder to get teeth into...
and for those who want stats and reference materials Look up Modulus of elasticity in steel wire and wire gauges. I used Machinery's Handbook in my day.... but there is alot on the internet these days.
Wire gauges for what its worth the larger the number the finer the wire. same goes for sheet metal... My area of engineering.

deb