Husband (COOP BUILDER) has question?

[31665]

He wants me to ask you all what size fence we should use in the run area around the coop. I was told 12 gauge welded wire but what size? Can anyone help?

 

[Texas Fluffy Feet]

Most people on here seem to prefer the 1/2" hardware cloth. HTH

 

[NorTracNY]

Don't have experience, but from what I've gathered reading around here, you'd be fine with 1" unless you're concerned with multiple raccoons reaching through at the corners and working as a team.

 

[yellowdragon]

we have a major coon and opossum problem. I used 1inch all around and on top, then I doubled it around the bottom about 3 foot up and put one stand of eletric wire about 6 inchs to 8inch up and turned on the eletrical charger box. I haven't had one snatch in the night since. ( I had 5 silkies pulled half through the night before I reinforced) I may have went over board, but nothing going to nab them at night again.

 

[Chirpy]

Hardware cloth is always the best option for predator proof fencing. However, it's very expensive so if that's not an option then I'd use the welded wire as you have asked about. We used 2x4 inch welded wire, six feet high and then put 1" chicken wire around the bottom of it going 2 feet up the sides and 15-18 inches buried into the ground with the bottom bent outward.

The smaller the holes in the wire the less chance of raccoons or something getting their paws through it to reach your chickens.

 

[RoostersCrow]

If predators are not a problem, particularly no toughies like racoon or opossum, then 1" chicken wire is OK. I'm pretty sure though that one day I will likely have a predator problem.