Opinions Please!

[silkiechick05]

Okay, i was wondering if one layer of 19 gauge 1/2" by 1/2" galvanized wire is strong enough to keep out:

Coyotes

Raccoons

Possums

Large 85lb dog (neighbors insist on letting their dogs roam wherever)

Skunks

Snakes

OR

do you think i should beef up the wire and have two layers?

 

[StupidBird]

Whatever it is, I need that toughness too. Did you add snakes?

 

[silkiechick05]

Quote:
good idea.

i will add that

 

[possumqueen]

Aha!!! A foolish person has asked me for my opinion!

Here goes.

I think one layer is just fine. Two layers is overkill and extra money spent.

I think the one layer will keep out everything on the list except snakes, which can follow anywhere a mouse can go, and even if you had seven times seven layers, the mice can go anywhere they darned please, and -- imho -- snakes are always welcome to the mice.

(I do SO love it when people ask for my opinion!)

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
haa haa you're funny!! When I read the post title, I went "uh-oh OP is in for it now"!!! LMAO!

 

[christa7032]

Personally I don't count on anything anymore. My coop was a chain link dog run with extra wire run around it and a tarp sealing the top shut and something still killed 3 of my girls. I think they did this without ever actually getting into the coop! Whatever it was was reaching through the wire and killing them from the outside! Also a friend of mine lost a couple of girls to a hawk that would hang onto the wire on the outside of the run and reach through to kill the chickens. They were confused when they began finding dead birds in the run until they caught the hawk red handed! So my answer is that one layer may be enough but if predators want to get your girls they will do their best to get in! Good luck.

 

[elmo]

Yes, you're right. The problem with chain link and anything that has spaces larger than 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch is that predators can reach in and grab birds that pile up in the corners, or roost next to the wire.

But if the wire spacing is small enough, predators can't do that. Mice can get through 1/2 inch spaces, and small snakes, too. But a snake small enough to fit through that kind of opening had better watch out that it doesn't get eaten by the chickens.

 

[possumqueen]

Quote:
Amen to THAT! Chickens will chase down and catch anything that moves, if it's small enough, and sometimes even that doesn't matter.

 

[sillybirds]

Quote:
Yes, I believe it will be strong enough to keep out the listed predators, as long as it is securely fastened to your fence posts, and as long as it's buried or has an adequate apron.

 

[LynneP]

You should be fine, especially if you bury a flange underground too. If you're worried about fortifying the hardware cloth, you could use cattle wire on the outside of the bottom panels...or add polycarbonate, vinyl panels or snow boards...

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