Quick question about predator proofing..

[Party_in the_coop]

I’ll be attaching hardwire cloth to the outside of chain link fencing for my chicken run and coop… what can I use to attach the hardwire cloth to the the chain link? I was thinking zip ties but idk? I want it to stay put so predators doesn’t get a free buffet at night time. We will start our build this weekend so I’m trying to figure out what all I need before I head to the store to get what I need.

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

Zip ties will totally do the job, but I believe there are similar metal ones you could buy. They are probably way more expensive, though. I think some think zip ties used repeatedly through the fence would work great

 

[Party_in the_coop]

Zip ties will totally do the job, but I believe there are similar metal ones you could buy. They are probably way more expensive, though. I think some think zip ties used repeatedly through the fence would work great

Thank you!! My brother mentioned “hog rings” which look like big staples to me but I have no clue how those would work since it’s not wood it’s being attached to. Lol. That’s why I figured I would ask here.

 

[Callender Girl]

I am a major believer in the use of zip ties, especially extreme weather ones. However, I might opt for metal ones (if they exist?) or cutting small lengths of sturdy wire and twisting those through the hardware cloth and chain link.

Having said that, I am not the best role model. I have kept hardware cloth attached to a hog-panel run on one of my coops for several years using heavy duty zip ties.

HOWEVER, I am pretty certain that a determined mink or similar predator COULD chew through those if it so desired. The birds in that coop/run set-up are only out when I am home and are locked into the coop at night. The coop sits right outside my living room window, and I am pretty confident I would be notified of a predator's approach by my crazy terrier, Sir Henry the Loud (resident rooster in that coop) or the ever-on-the-lookout-for-everything Buff geese.

Good luck on buying all you need at the store on the first try -- an experience I've rarely had .

 

[Party_in the_coop]

I am a major believer in the use of zip ties, especially extreme weather ones. However, I might opt for metal ones (if they exist?) or cutting small lengths of sturdy wire and twisting those through the hardware cloth and chain link.

Having said that, I am not the best role model. I have kept hardware cloth attached to a hog-panel run on one of my coops for several years using heavy duty zip ties.

HOWEVER, I am pretty certain that a determined mink or similar predator COULD chew through those if it so desired. The birds in that coop/run set-up are only out when I am home and are locked into the coop at night. The coop sits right outside my living room window, and I am pretty confident I would be notified of a predator's approach by my crazy terrier, Sir Henry the Loud (resident rooster in that coop) or the ever-on-the-lookout-for-everything Buff geese.

Good luck on buying all you need at the store on the first try -- an experience I've rarely had .

I also thought about using wire. I live in the sticks so we have opossums, raccoons, snakes, bobcats, deer (which I’m not to worried about), wild hogs (which is rare to see them up my way.. mainly they stay deep into the woods), foxes, field rats, things like that. Mainly all smaller predators. I want to make sure it’s safe at all cost. I’m sure I’ll have to go to multiple stores to get everything I need It never fails.

 

[HumbleAmerican]

Hog rings and the pliers to apply them tend to be stronger than zip ties. The staples are actually bent with a specific pair of pliers to form a triangle. The short sides of the 'staple' overlap to make the bottom of the triangle, an the long center part of the staple gets bent in the center to form the peak. You would attach directly to the chain link with hog rings.

In my opinion the hog rings are a more permanent installation. No brittle zip ties from UV exposure and winter time the hog rings wont get brittle.

 

[Party_in the_coop]

Hog rings and the pliers to apply them tend to be stronger than zip ties. The staples are actually bent with a specific pair of pliers to form a triangle. The short sides of the 'staple' overlap to make the bottom of the triangle, an the long center part of the staple gets bent in the center to form the peak. You would attach directly to the chain link with hog rings.

In my opinion the hog rings are a more permanent installation. No brittle zip ties from UV exposure and winter time the hog rings wont get brittle.

Thank you for explaining how they work! My brother mentioned these and I had no clue how they worked.

 

[HumbleAmerican]

Thank you for explaining how they work! My brother mentioned these and I had no clue how they worked.

I'm just glad it made sense. I have a terrible time explaining things via the written word.

 

[perkolator]

Zipties should work great, just make sure you get the UV rated outdoor ones - otherwise the regular ones will degrade in about 1yr and be brittle, my UV rated ones are still holding after several years on my deer fence. My personal go-to's for securing stuff outdoors is zipties or galvanized wire.

 

[Battlepants]

I take zipties as a quick and dirty temporary solution. Great for getting things set up in the short term, but I expect degradation over time.

I like using galvanized wire (electric fence wire) to "sew" pieces of chicken wire or other fence wire to eachother as a more permanent solution.