Lost another one, question on hardware cloth

[birdlover]

Quote:
LOL Thanks. I can't take credit for the idea. I saw it just the other day on a rerun of "All Creatures Great and Small". And it was just as you said... in a cow pasture!

 

[speckledhen]

What I've found is the best fencing is the welded wire with the 2"x4" openings with the bottom 2-4 ft wrapped in hardware cloth. You drive metal fence posts (quite cheap, called U-posts) into the ground-there are light duty and heavy duty ones. And there are hooks up and down that the fence is attached to. Comes in 50 and 100' lengths.

 

[LynneP]

Hi Scott- I think it would be easier and better to simply sheathe the outside of your run on the bottom half with OSB or plywood. Do you have a pic? Not only should it keep the dog out, but it will deflect rain and snow when it's windy. We'ce done that with out run and with a huge storm approaching, I'm very happy with the decision!

You can see them on this page if you scroll down...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=7693-seasonal-concerns

 

[kelliepulido]

Phyliss I love your little cooop!! So cute.I know I have double security here.First the back of my yard is about 3/4 acre and it has 6ft.cylone fencing around it.Then I have 3 kennels that actually the chiickens save as their runs they are also 6ft.hi cyclone fencing.I wrapped the bottom 1.5ft.with rabbit fencing it is only about 1/4in openings.The runs are inside the other fencing.Then the coop in the barn is fenced off.With heavy livestock fencing on the outside to keep the dogs out and then chicken wire on the inside and the whole bottom perimeter is wood about 1.5ft.hi so little chicks can't get thr.The front of the big barn door has a big gate made out of lovestock fencing that is 5.5ft.hi so the dogs can/t get in but during the summer the big barn door can be open to leave the coop open to fresh air.The chcikkkens have a pop door that has a ramp into the kennels but then the kennels have a gate that can be opened to let everybiody freee range in the yard when the dogs are up.Right now everybody has been locked in teh barn it has been too cold to go out and too much snow.

 

[ttotoole]

Is the purpose of the hardware cloth because of the smaller openings in the mesh or is it because a raccoon or other predator can not chew thru? I was crushed when I read that chicken wire was not sufficient. A lot of time and staples went into a beautiful chicken wire job on the coop run. If it is the opening in the chicken wire that is the problem, shouldn't it be ok at night when the chickens are in their coop for the night? Or, as I fear can the raccoons break all the way thru the wire and climb into the coop. thanks for any kind words.

 

[ssteiner]

Here's a picture of the coop/enclosed run/open run. I set up the stakes/hardware cloth, and built a basic door this weekend. What are people's thoughts? I intend to allow 24 hour access (by chickens only) to the enclosed run and weekend/late afternoon access to the vegetable garden enclosed run.

Thanks for any input.

Scott

 

[SewingDiva]

Looks really nice! I have just one observation but I think the lower photo answers my question: it looks like you used the finished factory edge of the hardware cloth at the top of the enclosure yes?

The cut ends of hardware cloth are really sharp and can give you a nasty puncture wound (ask me how I know this

) so hopefully visitors won't put their hands over that top edge. if it's the factory edge though it's probably fine.

Phyllis

 

[SewingDiva]

Quote:
Racoons are powerful littlw buggers and they can get their paws though the opening in chicken wire no problem. On another thread a man just lost a chicken because his dog ran through chicken wire "like it was paper" and went after his girls.

But that being said - lots of people on BYC do use it quite successfully. It's not truly predator proof though, so if you have predators hardware cloth is much sturdier if a wire wall is what you're looking for.

Phyllis

 

[FrChuckW]

On the subject of hardware cloth, I prefer to use the 1/4 inch type. Mostly because it will prevent anything bigger than a mouse from getting into what you are screening in. AS long as it is properly secured it will withstand all except the most determined animal from getting to your birds.

And if a mouse gets in, your birds will make it a snack. The larger the hole the better the chance of some varmint getting in.

 

[mamaKate]

You have a really pretty setup! My concern is about the dog. If he can easily tear through chicken wire, I'm not sure hardware cloth will stop him.