The Truth about Chicken Wire / Hex Netting...

[cosbackyard]

So, what size mesh should we use for the hardware cloth? Is 1/2" ok or do we need to go down to 1/4"?

I use 1/2". One quarter is more expensive and overkill for the predators I have in my area.

 

[blipit007]

Ok, so I'm a newbie... we build the run part of the outside dwelling yesterday. I wanted to use the nice galvanized caging that we used in the rabbit hutch, but my DH insisted on the typical 1" chicken wire. I caved and let him do what he wanted. As he got it half way installed, he said, wow, this stuff is flimsy... We buried it 1' deep, and where we overlapped the 2 pieces half way up, we fastened it with a 2x4. We used heavy staples from a staple gun, and in most places covered the ends with a trim board...

Reading this forum, I am wanting to rip it all down and start over! What should I do? Get the good stuff and put it over the existing stuff on the lower half? Leave it?

They are under our deck up against the house. We never had a problem with our bunnies that are free range on the deck above however.

 

[cosbackyard]

Nice job on the run!
If you want a little extra security I think you've got the right idea - just put some hardware cloth over the lower half. No need to rip anything down.
I'd think the buried chicken wire was fine, though someone with more experience might have another opinion.

 

[DuginMT]

I went with chicken wire for my whole run under the deck. The run is 8' high and about 220 SF. The reason I went with chicken wire is that two 50' rolls cost under $50. We have coyotes around, but I doubt they would come to the house as everyone shoots at them here. Most of the photos I have seen on predator attacks on chicken wire looks like the predator pulled out the staples holding the chicken wire, but did not tear the chicken wire itself. Therefore, I am using 3/4" galvanized poultry wire staples every 6" or so. Might slow them down some. I did double up the chicken wire on the bottom foot. Also, I plan on locking them in their coop every night. For the several hundred dollars I would have spent on hardware cloth with small openings, I figure I can replace a chicken now and then. We will see how it works and reinforce if we need to.

 

[Alaskan]

I think chicken wire is nice in that at least the wires are wrapped around each other (aren't they? I guess I need to go look). I had used goat fence, in a nice strong thickness, and it was a TERRIBLE choice! The different wire strands are sort of spot welded together where they cross each other, and my dog was able to pop the welds apart with his mouth. My dog has not been able to get through the fence sections with chicken wire, as long as those areas were supported well enough. Chicken wire is a bit floppy, and needs lots of support to stay strong.

I don't have any coons though, and from what I have read they are just terrible.

Anyway, I need to completely redo my runs as soon as the snow melts, and I am SO SAD about it! I can't figure out how I am going to do it with my terrible handyman skills, not too much money, and still make it cute and effective!

My problems are raptors by the arm load and on occasion dogs. Last year a raptor dive bombed THROUGH the net that covers my run and still killed a couple hens. I am so bummed about the entire thing.

 

[DuginMT]

Yes, chicken wire has no welds and is twisted together, about 10 times per hex. It is also galvanized to discourage rust. I can't see an eagle getting through it easily if you use galvanized staples every 6" or so around the edges. I used a standard heavy duty hand stapler with wide crown 5/16" staples to erect it temporarily and found that you could easily pull the wire away and the staples with it, with little effort. If you use the 3/4" galvanized poultry netting staples then it would be very uncomfortable for a normal human to pull out by hand. Now your bears, that is another story! Good luck with fixing up your runs.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

There used to be several pictures on this site, showing large holes in chicken wire. I don't remember if they were in this section or were posted after attacks, in the predator section. Dogs and racoons have both gone through chicken wire. It works to keep raptors out.

If you lock the chickens in a more secure coop at night, that should usually keep them safe from racoons. If your coop is inside a perimeter fence, most dogs won't find there way to the coop and run. Otherwise, you can layer a better wire along the bottom portion of the run, to keep out dogs. Or coyotes.

I like hardware cloth to be secured with screws and washers. Some people use screws and a strip of wood. Staples do get pulled out by animals. Over time, as the wood ages and dries that's even easier. I like hinges and latches attached with screws, too.

Large racoons and dogs are really strong. The good thing about hardware cloth, is that it's rigid, has smaller openings and is harder for them to get a grip on, with their teeth. That's when they pull with their hole body. I usually use 1/2" as it keeps out the smallest species of weasel and rats, as well.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Somebody here in Arkansas but on the other side of the state next to the Mississippi levee has some good photos of damage two big dogs did to her chicken wire a few years back. I wish I had a link to those but I don’t. I don’t remember what gauge her chicken wire was if she ever said.

There was two different kind of damage. In one, they had pulled so hard the twists came undone. Chicken wire is not welded but is twisted together. The other type of damage was that they had literally broken the wire. Remember these were big dogs. If they had been smaller dogs she might not have had any photos to share.

There was another post with photos where someone had his prizewinning chicken breeding pens made out of chicken wire that had protected his flock for decades get totally destroyed by some big dogs. They killed all his chickens.

The heavier gauge your wire is the less likely it is that something can get through regardless of whether it is welded or twisted. The size and strength of the animal trying to get in makes a difference. How securely it is attached and how strong what it is attached to makes a difference.

I used 2”x4” welded wire for my run with fairly light gauge chicken wire on the lower 18” and forming an apron maybe 18” wide. That chicken wire was mostly to keep baby chicks with a broody in but it helps add some protection to the older chickens from outside critters. My philosophy is to have a predator resistant run for the day and lock them in a predator proof coop at night. It’s worked so far but that doesn’t mean something big enough or hungry enough won’t get to them later today or even tonight.

You have to remember that there can be a big difference in what might possibly happen and what absolutely will happen each and every time. My folks never had a run for their chickens. The chickens totally free ranged every day of the year and we lived a few miles outside of not much. There were pasture fields and woodlands all around with all kinds of predators. Sometimes we had a dog and sometimes we didn’t. They’d go years without a predator attack but occasionally a dog or fox would find them and have to be dealt with.

I can’t do that here. This is too popular a place for people to drop dogs off in the country for the good life, which usually means they eventually get eaten by coyotes. And I saw three coyotes yesterday mid-morning in the pasture across the road.

Depending on your situation and circumstances chicken wire may be a good enough deterrent to protect your chickens for a good long time. Or you may run into a problem tonight. You just never know.

 

[cywiar merch]

For the several hundred dollars I would have spent on hardware cloth with small openings, I figure I can replace a chicken now and then. We will see how it works and reinforce if we need to.

Yes, I can understand the financial aspect. But on the other hand, what about the impact of attacks on your chickens -stress. I have heard accounts of people that have had repeated attacks and the effect it has had on chickens health, laying etc.

 

[acsinos]

We have the standard gage (whatever Lowe's sells) chicken wire for the run and then an inside roosting/nesting area constructed out of plywood...where the hens sleep. Never had a problem with anything breaking in.
BUT - we have a lost a bird or two in our free range flock from raccoons. The chickens roost up in the rafters of the building, but if anyone roosts low, they were fair game for attack. We installed an alert system (those wireless alerts that notify you someone is in your driveway) and pointed it up the mountain, away from the chickens. If anything walks past the unit, an alarm sounds in the house.
Yes, that means we have gotten up at 3 AM many nights to chase critters through the woods...but, we haven't lost another chicken (knock on wood) since installing it.