Is hardware cloth the same thing as chicken wire or not?

[ShrekDawg]

maybe but I dont think he'd like ever heard of hardware cloth until I told him

 

[ShrekDawg]

ok I'll look into that thank you for all of your help

 

[elmo]

I agree with the other posters about chicken wire not being as strong as hardware cloth, but there's another factor to consider. The spaces between the wire in a typcial chicken wire fence will be 1 inch or more. Not only can rats climb through this size hole with ease, but racoons and other predators can reach in, grab your birds, and pull them through the hole, dismembering them in the process.

If you buy hardware cloth that has spaces between the wires of greater than 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch, you're running the same risk, no matter what the wire gauge.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I just went out and looked and the wire Mac gave us is siver in color, has half inch (too small to be an inch so I assume half inch) squares, and is realatively hard to bend but do-able so I assume it is hardware cloth? Am I correct?

 

[ColoradoMike]

Sounds like hardware cloth to me. It does come in various grid sizes. Mine is 1/2" I believe...

 

[Sissy]

Thats what i used 19 gage hardware cloth and its doing the job,
i also use juicy fruit gum yes i laughed
when i heard it keeps racoons away and other critters.
but it has worked for us. i used unwrapped sticks of the gum
rolled it and tossed a 2-4 pieces into the places
we knew they were coming from
and gum is gone and not a possem or racoon in sight ever since . over 2 months. .LoL
sorry to mess up ur thread.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thanks and it's fine you did not mess up the thread, that's very interesting. What so you put the gum outside the run or what? And then they take the gum instead, I assume because it's easier food to get? That's very interesting. So with the gum the don't have to break into the coop and run and struggle and fight with the birds trying to catch them so the just go for the gum instead cause it's right there and easy to get and they are kind of lazy and opportunistic hunters/scavengers/animals and will take they easy prey/food over the difficult prey/food anyday? Is that how it works? And then the gum keeps them away from your birds? That's very interesting. I've never heard of that before, thanks for informing me.

 

[ShrekDawg]

thanks

 

[henryetta]

please, can you tell more about the gum???? or even another thread if not this one? And, on the topic of wire, has anyone ever used metal lath instead of the hardware cloth? (sorry, i already do have a post of its own, but incase it gets no hits, thought this might be appropriate place as well) I thought to use 2 feet up from ground so coons cant reach in, and for window covering as well...