I hate chicken wire!

[georgiagail]

Try this source...

http://www.csnstores.com/Mat-0.5-Mesh-Galvanized-Hardware-Cloth-308243B-308246B-BFJ1003.html

100 foot roll of 36" high hardware cloth - a few cents under $100. Free shipping.

Others have mentioned checking out local Ace Hardware stores (if they don't have it in stock, they will order it for you for delivery to the store with free shipping)

Gail

 

[LivingRootsFarm]

Quote:
I agree with smokinchik on hating the hardware cloth! I had to put it byself and it was a pain in the butt! I have scratches on my legs and arms from where I had cut pieces and the cloth came "rolling" back and poked me.

 

[Trunkster]

Quote:
I agree chicken wire is rather useless and very difficult to work with which is why I didn't use it. I used 18 gauge welded wire in two sizes, 1"x1" and 1/2" x 1/2". It's considerably more expensive but offers absolute peace of mind and how much is that worth.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=63059-mother-cluckers

 

[cpwhip]

Xlent advice and thanks for the link, I think I'm going to take several of your suggestions and get more 2x4's to go around the run 1st
that should allow me to stretch the chick wire tighter then I will invest in hardware cloth for the bottom 36 inches and bury
several inches while I'm at it. however I will keep the top the way it is with the chicken wire that will make them safe from aerial attacks
"I hope" we do have a lot of hawks and other prey birds here. then I will try to build a door lol wish me luck
I'm only 4 weeks into chicken keeping and I have already made my share of mistakes but I have fallen in love with my girls
and their already spoiled rotten so I will do what ever it takes to resolve this problem heck I've only had them a short time and their on
the 2nd coop the 1st one was way too small, as it stands right now my 1st egg will cost just a tad over 2,000.

here's my girls they like to be held and petted I never new chickens could be so sweet. I have 8 girls they'll be 7 weeks on Saturday

I will post pictures of the improvements once there done. again thanks so much BYC!

 

[cpwhip]

Quote:
I agree chicken wire is rather useless and very difficult to work with which is why I didn't use it. I used 18 gauge welded wire in two sizes, 1"x1" and 1/2" x 1/2". It's considerably more expensive but offers absolute peace of mind and how much is that worth.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=63059-mother-cluckers

its worth a lot! I am constantly looking out at them to see if there's anything lurking.
I will look into the 18 G welded wire the only thing it what sizes it comes in may be a problem.
love the name lol I think I will name mine "egghaustion Inn" I worked on this run all day sat,sun,mon,tues
it took me 2 days to bury the 4x4's 24 inches deep in concrete and I was actually not too unhappy about the build until
this wire. so Trunkster where did you find this welded wire and what did you use to attach it to the posts?
at this point cost isn't important I just want it done right. I also like the way yours boards are framing your run
I may just have to copy you if you don't mind

 

[speckledhen]

I use 2x4" opening welded wire for pens, backed about 2 feet up with hardware cloth. I never use hardware cloth for the actual pen structure. The welded wire is much more economical and holds up well.

 

[Ole rooster]

A 4'x25' roll of hardware cloth at Home Depot is $52. The thing about working with it over chicken wire is it's so much stiffer which makes it easier to work. Also from the looks of your run I would say you need more support for the wire to hold to. The less open distance in covers the better it looks. I bought a roll of 48" and 24" HC. I know I'll go back for more but it's a start.

 

[greenpixies]

This has been a very helpful discussion for me (another newbie). Thanks to y'all!

For what it's worth, Tractor supply has a mailing list that doles out 10% coupons every couple of months or so. Every bit helps when you've got big purchases to make (such as loads of hardware cloth, etc.)

Here's my related question:

How have you handled the areas around your doors or gates to your runs? We are puting together a 10x10x6feet tall chainlink dog kennel for use as our run (until our property is fenced which could be 4-10 months from now). My plan is to wrap the seams between each panel with chicken wire from top to bottom. Then we will add a 10x10 pitched kennel 'roof' with tarp that can be purchased for such kennels. We will adjust the tarp so that it is only covering a half of the run (with coop under it) and the girls will have sun in part of their run that way. Chicken wire (or now I'm thinking hardware cloth) will be wrapped around the frame where the tarp is not covering. Again, all 'seams' between the metal armature parts will be wrapped in chicken wire. Here are the two areas I am 'struggling' with:

1. I planned to run chicken wire accross the entire bottom of the run to prevent digging predators from accessing our girls. But I've been hearing mixed messages about this. Some say the girls won't like walking on it and may injure their beaks while foraging and picking. Any thoughts? We have serious predators around including ferral cats, etc.

2. I'm concerned about how I can get the gate area sealed up while making it easy for humans to access. I thought about making a large doorway 'curtain' with hardware cloth that stays connected to the kennel with carbiners, but I just don't know if this will keep out the predators.

Any help is appreciated!

 

[georgiagail]

We ran chicken wire on the bottom of all our dog kennel runs. It ends up being covered by sand that's hauled in.

For the doors; we continue the 36" high hardware cloth that we place along the bottom three feet of the run to include the gate, stopping it at the edge of the gate that would swing open. This tends to limit the gate being able to swing INWARD but it still can swing outward without much problem.

This still leaves a small gap at one side of the gate (and, of course, along the bottom since this must be left free to swing open) but trimming the hardware cloth a bit further than the edges, then folding it over and attaching it with zip ties tends to cover any gaps nicely while not impeding the gates ability to open.

I hope this makes sense...

Gail

 

[Bantam Chase]

Lets back up a step - what predators are in your area that would find a chicken tasty? Build your fence from there. If you only have larger animals to worry about then 2x4" welded wire should do the job for the upper sides and roof. We've used this for YEARS on the farm and its successfully kept out raccoons, opossums, hawks, skunks and dogs. You'll still want the hardwire cloth for the bottom (and dug under) for raccoon arms and the like, but it is unnecessary to use it on the entire run if you're not keeping out varmits like weasels. I agree that it is great stuff, but way too pricey to use on the entire run... IF you can avoid it.

Also in my experience, the chicken wire tends to rust quickly and fall apart after only a year or so (could just be the cheap stuff i've used).