Need advice.. is this fox proof wire?

[Ashlee peta]

Can foxes chew through chicken wire? In my experience they haven't but I guess it's possible if they are hungry enough.

Hardware cloth is certainly good stuff.

From my perspective, if they can't chew through chicken wire, I think it would work fine. The main problem I've had is not securing the edges/corners well. I suggest getting some wire roll and some wire cutters..... go around all edges and corners and literally sewing in pretty much every section and/or securing with staples and a good staple gun.

I had a fox get through about a six inch space, which it appeared to have pulled back enough, then slid under...... It got one of my best laying hens.

I put a trail cam out the next night, and fixed the corner, and lo and behold the pictures the next morning were that of a Texas grey fox, which I knew we had back by the creek.

I honestly don’t know I haven’t experienced it myself but often hear of people who have had a fox get in by chewing or forcing it’s way into the coop. (Seeing some videos and stuff online it could possibly be that chicken wire has degraded overtime and made that easier to do)
Our neighbours lost all theIr chickens a couple weeks back to a fox managing to get into the coop via the auto door, it must have snuck in just before the door closed for the night, killed all the chickens and managed to break out of the coop during the night so really who knows what they are capable of haha.

I was hoping that the listing I was looking at would work as it’s the perfect frame/size, but I also didn’t want to waste my money on that if I had to go and buy better mesh anyway lol.
Thank you for your advice! Much appreciated and hopefully that fox stays clear of your flock

 

[21hens-incharge]

Hahaha that was my thoughts also.. like the actual frame is good but looking at the photos of the mesh I did hesitate.. we also have a German shepherd who I think is itching to get a taste of duck so we definitely need something to hold up!

I have big dogs too.

For my birds I went with chain link on my big run. My hoop run was supposed to be temporary...... Yeah that changed. That is cattle panels, chicken wire AND hardware cloth on the bottom 2'.

For fox....I have found they can and will go over a 6' fence or under if they can dig near the run before they try going through the wire.

An apron pinned down well will stop the diggers. Fox don't need a big gap to fit at all.

Definitely use hardware cloth AT LEAST on the bottom 2 feet as raccoons can easily reach through chicken wire and will literally pull pieces of a bird back through that wire.

 

[Ashlee peta]

I have big dogs too.

For my birds I went with chain link on my big run. My hoop run was supposed to be temporary...... Yeah that changed. That is cattle panels, chicken wire AND hardware cloth on the bottom 2'.

For fox....I have found they can and will go over a 6' fence or under if they can dig near the run before they try going through the wire.

An apron pinned down well will stop the diggers. Fox don't need a big gap to fit at all.

Definitely use hardware cloth AT LEAST on the bottom 2 feet as raccoons can easily reach through chicken wire and will literally pull pieces of a bird back through that wire.

Omg Racoons sound savage and everyone says Australia’s animals are all out to get us! Haha.
It looks like I am going to be spending my weekend at the hardware store buying all of the mesh/hardware cloth haha.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Omg Racoons sound savage and everyone says Australia’s animals are all out to get us! Haha.

Be glad you haven't lost birds to predators yet. It's a mess when you do. I'm glad that you're doing everything you can before you have all the problems that come with predators.

 

[Ashlee peta]

Absolutely! It's a great investment, and if it'll keep the girls safe, then doubly so!

That’s it. I can’t let anything hap

Be glad you haven't lost birds to predators yet. It's a mess when you do. I'm glad that you're doing everything you can before you have all the problems that come with predators.

I hate to think how bad it would be.
I am very lucky, and this is my first go at raising birds, and I know I would be devastated if they did get attacked. I’ve got two 3ish month old ducks, and they are so spoilt it’s not funny, so definitely wanting to get it right so it’s something I don’t have to stress about.

 

[aart]

Not sure you need to go the 1/2" HC way.
14ga 2x4 welded wire should keep canines out.

Definitely go for an anti-dig apron.
Good examples of anti-dig apron installation.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wire-around-coop.1110498/#post-17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208