Screen Door ok?

[Melmom8]

Would chicks peck through a screen door?

I think the answer is yes and so I would need to cover it with hardware cloth?

When to use hardware cloth vs chicken wire? Seem for the coop and protection the smaller the hole the better.

Thanks

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I use a screen door on my brooder room and the older chicks often fly out and wander the room. They spend hours in front of the screen sunning themselves and have never pecked out. However, varmints will go through that screen in a heartbeat. The older ones may go through it eventually but my laying hens get up on the steps and have never tried to go through it into the brooder room. But they do love the room so if they could they probably would.
I suppose it depends where and how you are going to use it.

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
Totally agree here. The chickens going through won't be the problem. The dog, raccoon, or whatever wants your chicken coming through flimsy screen material will be the issue. If you're looking at using one as the door to your coop, I'd remove the screen material and nail/screw hardware cloth onto it. I'm sure your chickens would love it! But if you're talking as a barrier inside your coop (like from a storage area to their coop area), then screen material would be fine...I don't see them pecking through it.

 

[Debob]

Why not overlay the screen wire with the chicken wire,best of both ways .

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I would definitely put 1/2" hardware cloth over it, well secured at the edges.