should I use BOTH Hardware Cloth AND Chicken wire?

[FisherMOM]

I am trying to decide HOW MUCH Hardware cloth to get for my run. I know it's $$$ But I am wondering if I need to use chicken wire if I get hardware cloth. from what I have seen... I suppose not.

But say I do get chicken wire. I am wondering if it is wise to do only the bottom half hardware wire and the top half chicken wire? I have seen where chicken wire has been woven together to make a taller coop. I plan on this one being about 4 feet high, and about 8 feet across... not sure exactly of the rest of the dimensions.

Yes, there will be a roof. "Cheep-O" DH says we will just use bird netting. I am not thrilled about that.. but I am compromising for now... I will change it later on... maybe next year, to chicken wire and a section with a corrugated roof (at least that is my "secret plan" for now!

It has nearly been a fight to the death with him to get him to OK this coop and run. What a weeny he has been. I am building the run by myself. Once he learned that, he relaxed a little. He has a really sore shoulder these days and was dreading it. Me.. I will love to make a nice playground for my babies!!

so... do I really only need to have hardware cloth on the bottom portion of my run?

 

[trailhound]

I am building a new coop as well, and I think that I am going to use wire with about 2 inch squares (maybe that is hardware cloth) over the whole thing and see how it goes. Just my opinion....

As for the husband- here is what worked for me- this time he is building the whole fancy thing for me. I get tired of nagging and waiting and build it myself. I don't build houses for a living like he does, so my corners aren't all square, nails are crooked and such. It is a perfectly functional project, just not the most beautiful thing. However, he just can't stand it- especially that people might come over and think that he build something so shoddy. So, by now, he is doing to the whole thing (with me assisting as needed). Also, I should add that he has also evolved and understands that this is just a chicken coop, not a million dollar mansion, therefore, tiny little things that are a little bit off no longer warrent a tempertantrum.

Good luck! I am sure your coop will be great!

Andrea

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I plan on hardward cloth all over just because I don't plan on being home all the time to keep an eye out on them. predators can climb and can rip through chicken wire easy. It's better to be safe then sorry I think.

 

[trailhound]

Right- A friends dog started a pulled spot in the chicken wire on my chicken tractor, then a possum finished it off and carted off one of my hens. I am going with the hardware cloth because people seem to think they need to bring their dogs to our farm, and they immediately try and eat the chickens. So, this way, I don't have to worry about visitors.

 

[chickenfeed]

We are building our run now too. We're going to use fencing with 2x2 inch squares for the 3-5 foot area of the run and half inch hardware cloth from the bottom up to 3 feet. For same reasons. Very expensive to do all of the run in the smaller gauge hardware cloth!

 

[Sandrachx]

we used the 2" square fencing for our entire run area but then put 2' tall chicken fwire on top from the ground up (became 2 layers of wire) to 1) keep the varmints out and 2) keep baby chicks from squeeeeeezing through the 2" fencing to the clover outside the run.

we saved the hardware cloth for window screens and venting areas on the coop itself and hammered that on with the u-shaped staples you can get in the hardware store. it would take a godzilla-strengthed racoon to get through that!

 

[adeledamate]

Quote:
We double layered our coop too. Even though I live in the city we have a million critters that want my chickens. I've captured and released, 20 miles up into the mountains, opossums, skunks and know there are racoons and coyotes that can come by at anytime. I went through so much to get these chickens I don't want anything to happen to them.
The extra money was worth my being able to rest easier when I'm gone or asleep at night.

 

[cajunlizz]

WELL , this was predicted a month ago . WE just got our coop ( 8 x12 ) and our run ( 12 x20 ) completed and GUESS WHAT ? YEP , you guessed it , hubby is now being GIVEN 10 bantam hens . SO , I told him , LOOK if this is going to continue , LETS enlarge NOW .


Geeezzzzzzzz , GOOD thing this started off with 1 stray HEN that came and started laying in our yard . 1 TRIP to feedstore for laying pellets for her WAS ALL IT TOOK ..........

When given the 10 bantams , we will OWN 45 chickens ..... At least this week we will , NOW next week might be atotally different amount . Geeezzzzzzzzzzzzz

ANY volunteers on that enlargement ?

 

[Chirpy]

If you use hardware cloth you do not need to overlay it with anything else. Hardware cloth is the best predator protection you can use.

If you use 2x4 welded wire you will want to overlay it with either hardware cloth or 1" chicken wire so that raccoons and cats can't get their paws in to reach a chicken and so that chickens can't stick their heads out to get pulled through. (And little chicks can't get out.)

To save money I also used 2x4 welded wire for my entire run, used 1" chicken wire around the bottom 2 feet and buried a good 15-18 inches into the ground. Then, I used hardware cloth over the windows.

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
What exactly is the cost for a roll of say 50 ft. and 100 ft. of hardware cloth ?