Run material... hardware cloth or wire???

[yesfantina]

Hi

We're having a bigger coop built for us cause, well, chicken math. And we arent' handy enough to do it ourselves. The guy that's doing it has chickens and I've also seen another awesome coop he's built.

He's talking about using 1 x 2 inch wire fencing for the run (and the windows and stuff). That's what he's used on his and the other guys. Everything i've read HERE says to use hardware cloth. The wire is pretty heavy duty, I'm not talking chicken wire fencing. He says it's completely predator proof and he's gone this way becuase it comes in 6 foot lenghths so you don't have to piece it together like you would for hardware cloth to get the hight in the run.

Any comments? Does he know what he's talking about? Is 1 x 2 small enough opennings?
Thanks
-Tina

 

[loveourbirds]

1x2 is a pretty good choice, im not a fan of hardware cloth. the 1x2 is a lot heavier wire as you mentioned, if a predator can make it though it will take some time doing it.

drawbacks - it is a lot more expensive. it can let in rats and weasels. if this becomes an issue, just wrap it in poultry netting too.

1x1 is my chosen wire, locally a 3 foot by 100 foot roll is about $180. if your budget allows it, and you can get it, I recommend going this way. it is the same guage as the 1x2.

another wire buying tip: on heavy wire like your talking about, or any welded wire; look for wire that is galvanized after weld. it will cost a little more, but will last a lot longer. if your wire isn't labeled it is probably galvanized before weld. one way to tell is look at the joints in the wire, if its black its galvanized after weld. galvanized before weld will have a rounded appearance with no black appearance.

 

[MoonShadows]

I'm using 1x1 welded wire as an apron, then 1x2 welded wire up the first 4 feet and then 2 x 4 welded wire the rest of the way up and for the roof. I'm not a fan of hardware cloth either. Too hard to work with, and I don't like the look. The welded wire will deter the predators I'm most concerned about.