Is 1/2" x 1/2" hardware cloth really necessary?

[Lumenos]

Many people recommend 1/2" x 1/2" hardware cloth. Has anyone had livestock harmed through 1" x 1", 1" x 2", or 1 1/2" x 1 1/2? For example, a raccoon grabbing a bird, rabbit, etc.

(I changed the question after two replies.)

 

[Kait27]

I don't think the hardware cloth is used to keep the chickens in, so much as to keep predators out. If you only want to contain the chickens and not protect them, you can use chicken wire. Welded wire would provide openings large enough for a small chicken to get through, as well as many predators. What's the opposition to hardware cloth? I'm sure welded wire is way more expensive.

 

[bigoakhunter]

I use 1/2 X1/2 on my coop windows and vents. No problem!

I use 1 X 2 Welded Wire on my runs. No problem! If I went 2 X4 which is cheaper, I would do bottom 2 ft. with chicken wire over the 2 X 4 welded wire, if in a high predator area. if not then 2 X 4 welded wire is fine.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

If you look through the predator and pest section of the forum, you can read postings from people that have had their chickens killed through wire with openings that were too large. Raccoons are known for doing this, but there are also stories of hawks on the ground attacking through wire from a couple of people. Chickens have also been beheaded by an assortment of animals, when they stuck their heads out. Most of the time, it's raccoons, though.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
Yes, i have.

All the openings in my coop are now covered by 1/4 x 1/4 hardware cloth.

AND i now have a very special dislike for raccoons.

 

[Lumenos]

Quote:
I thought wire hardware cloth is a welded wire, but I found some scrap of it that looks like it is woven. I thought the larger the spacing the lower the cost, but maybe it depends on the gauge or if it is welded. Anyway I changed the question.

 

[Lumenos]

Quote:
Yes, i have.

All the openings in my coop are now covered by 1/4 x 1/4 hardware cloth.

AND i now have a very special dislike for raccoons.

How wide were the spacings in the wire, when your livestock was harmed?

 

[Roo_in_the_roost]

Is it nessesity... No. It really depends on your set up. I use 2 in chickenwire. However, I put the girls in the coop at night or if I am not going to be home. Also, I have a Large noisy dog in a dog run about 10 feet away from the chicken coop. So I know when there is trouble, And predetors generally stay away from him. But to be honest if not for the dog, and if I were to let them come and go while away I would definatly want the added feeling of comfort knowing that the hardware cloth was there. On the other hand I have a neighbor that free ranges with nothing but a chain link fence, a foot of 1 in chicken wire around the bottom and alot of trees.

 

[Whitewater]

We eventually decided on 1/2" hardware cloth after some long hard thought about our situation. For us, hardware cloth makes the most sense because we are in a very urban neighborhood with lots of predators, including children (who last year proved they had no problem coming into our garden and trampling our plants to get a look at our dogs, I figure they just won't be able to resist the lure of chickens, so THIS year we've erected a fence on our raised bed garden, it's almost 5' high in total . . . no more kinds tromping through the garden, we hope! There's a 4' chain link fence between the garden and our coop as well, so the kids would actually have to unlatch our gate -- which is now electrified thanks to some substandard wiring in the garage and a new motion sensing light. . . not a bad thing, really . . . anyhow . . . ).

We also have at least one raccoon and two semi-feral cats who basically keep not only the mouse, shrew and vole population down but also the rabbit, squirrel and songbird populations from gaining. I watched one of the cats recently stalking a crow, so I know it would see our chickens as a handy snack. I haven't seen the raccoon around in about the last 18 months, but where you see one, more are around somewhere!

We also have red-tailed hawks in the vicinity as well as bald eagles within a couple miles. Yeah. Hardware cloth is a must! In fact, one of the reasons I picked the coop plans I did is because the top of the coop, even before you put the wood rafters and the "indestructable" Sun Tuf on, is covered in hardware cloth!

We've jokingly called our coop Coop Knox, but there's no way I'm gambling with my bird's safety. We're also putting padlocks on the human sized door and the egg door, instead of the typically recommended latches.

Maybe if we lived out in the country somewhere and I was assured of good neighbors with good kids, and could run a double electric fence to keep predators out (and have an electrified fence over the top of the chicken run also . . . ), I would feel safe using chicken wire. But in our current situation, using chicken wire is just asking for trauma.

You might be able to find a deal on hardware cloth on Ebay, Freecycle, Craigslist or your local Habitat for Humanity REstore, or similar. You never know!


Whitewater

 

[elmo]

Many people on the dove board we visit have had their doves dismembered through 1/2" by 1" wire. Apparently, that extra bit of space allows a raccoon to get its paw inside.