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

[ShrekDawg]

Is hardware cloth the same thing as chicken wire or not? My dad seems to think its the same but I dont.

 

[MandyH]

No it's not the same. Hardware cloth is way stronger than chicken wire. And costs a lot more too.

 

[lalaland]

no, it is different. chicken wire is less strong, and sort of hexagonal. hardware cloth is welded wire. coons, dogs, and other things can rip apart chicken wire, but not hardware cloth.

 

[ShrekDawg]

ok thanks for the info

 

[wombat]

It isn't. Hardware cloth is typically 1/2" x 1/2" welded wire mesh. It is much stronger than chicken wire.

You'll see it discussed often here. Chicken wire is good for keeping chickens in, but it won't keep predators out. Properly installed hardware cloth gives you a much better defense against things like racoons.

For example:
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1290448&cp=2568443.2568451.2624969.1302712

 

[Sissy]

Dont waste your dollars on chicken wire.
We learned the hard way. critters got in and we lost 7
of my favs.

 

[ShrekDawg]

our neighbor gave us a dog kennel and wire to bury under it and I was thinking of making a coop and run as I hope to get some chickies soon

so I will have to go up and see what it is. I will also have to show my dad this thread and google images and stuff haha lol I was thinking of making an old dog house the coop and then the dog kennel the run and burying the wire underneath so no critters can get in so I will have to go up and see what it is tommorow and then get back to you thanks for all the info and help and stuff

 

[ShrekDawg]

ok thanks and i am sorry to hear about your birds

 

[Zahboo]

It's different. I use chicken wire on my coops because my coops are in a predator proof chainlink run. If you plan on having bantams, my bantams could get out of it until about 4 weeks old if they got scared.

 

[Judy]

You might research wire gauges and tensile strength. I actually have some fencing that looks like the classic octagonal chicken wire, but is galvanized and heavy gauge, and every bit as strong as my hardware cloth. I also have some of the inexpensive sort of chicken wire, and it works fine for its purpose, which is to keep the chickens out of the garden.

I don't remember the chicken wire we had years ago being nearly as flimsy as what is around my garden. Perhaps your Dad remembers different stuff from what is on the market now, as well.