Rat prevention: best sized wire?

[rachier8ch]

Thank you all for the feedback! It was good to read that other thread, and I'm glad to hear that 1/4" keeps out the mice. I'm going to make a multi-level hutch using 16 gauge 1/2" x 1" wire, and I'd like to fully enclose it in a wire cabinet to make a buffer zone to keep the birds away from the reach of cat paws, possums, and whatever else we have. I'm undecided as to make the buffer cabinet with chicken wire and placing a neuro-acting chunk bait in the buffer zone, or using 1/4" to keep them out altogether. I'll have to see what my hubs thinks. I appreciate everyone's comments!

 

[AdelleSV]

My neighbor had a 1/4” wire run and rats reached through the wire, grabbed the quail and ate their heads through the wire. Nightmarish!