Poultry wire question/Opinions- better options

[Firefly1v]

I wanted to see how others felt about Poultry wire and how long it lasted for you?

I live in Florida and have had chickens for almost 30 years. I have noticed that the pens we have built with poultry wire do not seem to last more than 3 or 4 years and then they rust away. Not only on the ground but in the middle or top. This is whether we do it 3 feet high or 6 feet high. In the sun or under complete cover.

Does anyone else have this problem? If so, what other wire seems to work better. I am thinking of changing to a welded wire that has 2x3 holes. I have a LGD that patrols 24x7, but could have a coon get in if he doesn't hear it.

Thanks for any suggestions or opinions..

 

[Wishing4Wings]

There was a thread that I looked through not too long ago "Chicken wire = dead chickens" you might find interesting. (use the quotation marks in the search and it should come right up)

Personally, chicken wire has worked fine for my family in the past (40 years ago

) but I've noticed that the new stuff today is very flimsy by comparison. We even reused old chicken wire when revamping an existing coop. The wire is a bit rusty, but still quite strong. We did reinforce around the bottom, up about 2 feet, with hard wire cloth to prevent those wascally waccoons from reaching through to grab chicken parts. Never had a raccoon or fox bite trough the old, tough wire. (I might be pushing my luck.) The new stuff looks like a kitten could get through!

 

[chfite]

I have found that some brands of chicken wire rust away quickly.

I guess it is just a toss of the coin as to which brand it is. I don't keep track of where I have bought chicken wire, so I can't avoid repeating the mistake. I use chicken wire on the inside of the 2x3 fencing to prevent reaching through.

Chris

 

[mississippifarmboy]

There was a thread that I looked through not too long ago "Chicken wire = dead chickens" you might find interesting. (use the quotation marks in the search and it should come right up)

Personally, chicken wire has worked fine for my family in the past (40 years ago

) but I've noticed that the new stuff today is very flimsy by comparison. We even reused old chicken wire when revamping an existing coop. The wire is a bit rusty, but still quite strong. We did reinforce around the bottom, up about 2 feet, with hard wire cloth to prevent those wascally waccoons from reaching through to grab chicken parts. Never had a raccoon or fox bite trough the old, tough wire. (I might be pushing my luck.) The new stuff looks like a kitten could get through!

That's the thing right there. The new chicken wire, every brand I've found and tried, is so cheap made and flimsy it's near useless for anything. By comparison, we had a few pieces of rolls about 40 years old in the barn that is three times as thick, stiff and still has almost no rust. I would trust the old time chicken wire to keep a small coon out of the coop, or at least slow them down. The new stuff? It wouldn't stop a mouse, much less anything else. I'd recommend 1"X2" welded wire myself.

 

[Firefly1v]

Ok that is what I thought. Glad and sorry it was not just me. Hubby is going to put up the poultry wire we have left and the welded wire over top. Hopefully between the 2 wires and the LGD we can keep the chickens safe.

Thanks for the info...