Is my hardware cloth defective?

[mcycle12]

I searched long and hard to find hardware cloth for my coop. In fact, lack of hardware cloth is delaying the completion of the coop. I finally was able to get a 50 foot roll of PVC (black) covered wire at a pretty penny. It's really not what I wanted, but beggars can't be choosy. The problem I'm having is that it will not go on straight. I've used hardware cloth before, so I'm not a total newby.

This issue is this: I have a seven foot pieces of wire I'm trying to put up. The wire is 48" wide wire. The end is cut square and secured straight. By the time I get to the end of the seven feet, I can get the top of the wire taunt, but the bottom is wavy to the point that the only thing I can see to do to make is straight is cut a pie shaped piece out and mend it back together. It's like one side of the wire was made longer than the other. If you follow the 1/2 inch squares down the supports, you can see them running off by the first support.....24 inches out. Yes, the coop 2X4 supports are straight and level.

Is there a way to fix this? I got the last roll from the store; I'm going to have to use this wire. My chicks are almost months old and still living in their brooder pen in the garage. Completion of the coop is priority #1 right now.

 

[azygous]

That's maddening. I've run into that problem with plastic deer netting.

Have you thought of adding 2 x 2 supports in between the 2 x 4 supports and cutting the wire into smaller pieces?

 

[Peppercorngal]

I searched long and hard to find hardware cloth for my coop. In fact, lack of hardware cloth is delaying the completion of the coop. I finally was able to get a 50 foot roll of PVC (black) covered wire at a pretty penny. It's really not what I wanted, but beggars can't be choosy. The problem I'm having is that it will not go on straight. I've used hardware cloth before, so I'm not a total newby.

This issue is this: I have a seven foot pieces of wire I'm trying to put up. The wire is 48" wide wire. The end is cut square and secured straight. By the time I get to the end of the seven feet, I can get the top of the wire taunt, but the bottom is wavy to the point that the only thing I can see to do to make is straight is cut a pie shaped piece out and mend it back together. It's like one side of the wire was made longer than the other. If you follow the 1/2 inch squares down the supports, you can see them running off by the first support.....24 inches out. Yes, the coop 2X4 supports are straight and level.

Is there a way to fix this? I got the last roll from the store; I'm going to have to use this wire. My chicks are almost months old and still living in their brooder pen in the garage. Completion of the coop is priority #1 right now.

I'm sorry that your wire is not cooperating with you. Personally as long as the function is correct I wouldn't care if it's wavy on the bottom! The chickens don't care, turn it upside down, put the straight part on the bottom where you need the most coverage and let it be wavy on top. My husband hates my chicken run because it's wavy and saggy, but it works and believe me the chickens don't care. They are safe and that is what mattered to me. Don't be a perfectionist about the looks, just make it safe for the chickens, that's my opinion. I'm sure it will be fine! Good Luck.

 

[mcycle12]

That's maddening. I've run into that problem with plastic deer netting.

Have you thought of adding 2 x 2 supports in between the 2 x 4 supports and cutting the wire into smaller pieces?

Yes, I’ve had this problem with deer net also. At least with that you can pretty much fold it over at a corner to take up the slack. Not so with the hardware cloth. Cutting the wire smaller may work. Thanks!

 

[mcycle12]

I'm sorry that your wire is not cooperating with you. Personally as long as the function is correct I wouldn't care if it's wavy on the bottom! The chickens don't care, turn it upside down, put the straight part on the bottom where you need the most coverage and let it be wavy on top. My husband hates my chicken run because it's wavy and saggy, but it works and believe me the chickens don't care. They are safe and that is what mattered to me. Don't be a perfectionist about the looks, just make it safe for the chickens, that's my opinion. I'm sure it will be fine! Good Luck.

Thanks for the encouragement! I’m not a perfectionist by any stretch. Saggy secure wire would work for me. But this stuff is like nothing I’ve ever worked with. I rolled out some more of it to get a better idea. It’s longer on BOTH sides than in the middle. I tried 2x2 batten strips on top of the edge to flatten it on the coop framing. But it still won’t pull it down. I’ll figure something out.

 

[mcycle12]

Here’s what it looks like when laid out flat.

 

[3KillerBs]

Looks like shoddy quality control at the plant.

I haven't worked with enough hardware cloth to have seen it before, but I've seen it in regular cloth often enough when the tension was uneven across the loom.

I'm afraid I have no advice for dealing with it.

 

[AgnesGray]

If you find you need more, I just got some after searching high and low on red brand's website direct.

Wavy wire is no fun! Good luck!

 

[City Farmer Jim]

Are you attracting it all at the top then the bottom horizontally. I've found that if you attach it top to bottom as you proceed left or right keeps it straighter using your stud to keep it square. I agree with the rest of the comments.. It doesn't HAVE to be perfect...get as close as you can.

 

[aart]

Those big waves look like a manufacturing defect to me.