Tip to make your hardware cloth runs look better

[Kung Foo Chicken]

A few years ago I was constructing an outdoor aviary for my cockatiels. I was using plans that included hardware cloth. I was kinda disappointed because I couldn't see them even looking a few feet out the window onto the furtherest part of the porch.

I then read a technique of using a paintbrush to etch the zinc galvanizing with vinegar (this also keeps parrots from getting zinc poisoning). I then went to the paint store and purchased black flat enamel paint. Coat your hardware cloth by painting with a stiff paintbrush. You will have to go the other side to paint that as well. You may use spray type paint but, it doesn't cover nearly as well.

Let it dry a couple of days.


Results in that you will be able to see your chickens from very far away and the black hardware cloth almost becomes invisible.


Sorry meant hardware cloth.... haha!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Cool! Thanks for the tip.

 

[willheveland]

nice tip, thank you Will

 

[spook]

That is a great tip, thank you for sharing that tidbit. Its definitely one to keep in the back of our minds.

At some point, could you share pictures of your aviary and cockatiels- I had bred Canaries at one point and wanted to build a outside aviary, but never did- now with my last bird, a single flight cage is almost to big! LOL. ~Kel

 

[Schroeder]

I hope the paint presents no problems for the chickens, as I really like this idea. Thank you

 

[patandchickens]

Um, I am not sure how useful it is to purchase galvanized wire and then mess up the galvanization on purpose?

I sure wouldn't do it. It will accellerate rusting, which weakens the wire.

(e.t.a. - oh wait, on rereading I see you are NOT suggesting doing anything with vinegar, just painting the wire black instead. Oops! Rest of post edited down to just new information

A roller is the easiest way to paint hardwarecloth or wire mesh. Don't load it too heavily. Indeed it does make it ever so much easier to see thru the wire.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Ridgerunner]

I used to work offshore in the Gulf of Mexico on the oil platforms. That saltwater environment, especially near the water level, really eats up any steal, even galvanized. All it takes is a scratch to get it started. We noticed that painting the galvanized metal extends its life for years.

I'm not a paint guru so I can't quote specifications. I know none of us could afford the heavy-duty industrial grade system used there anyway. It was acid etched, then rinsed with fresh water, then a primer, then a topcoat or two of paint, sometimes enamel, sometimes epoxy, sometimes mastic, depending where it was used.

You can always talk to your local paint store, but I'd think rinsing it with vinegar, rinsing off the vinegar with fresh water, then putting the enamal on after it dried would really make it last. I'm thinking especially where the fence is buried to stop predators from digging under it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
Pat, the vinegar just takes the loose stuff off the surface and etches the galvanizing, creating a rough surface so the paint will stick.

By the way, I love your ventilation page. I hope you don't mind me referring people to it.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

Great Info, soo glad you shared it with us!!!

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Yeah but "etches" means "eats away some of". Really truly!

Anything that messes with the galvanizing will hasten rusting. Especially on cheaply-galvanized stuff like a lot of what's sold today.

If you are concerned about optimal adhesion, just buy some galvanized-metal primer and roll that on before painting. It will be located near the Rustoleum type paint.

I've just used paint directly on the galvanized wire, though, and been adequately happy with the results. It won't last forever but it is SO easy to repaint that what does it matter

By the way, I love your ventilation page. I hope you don't mind me referring people to it.

Sure thing, glad it's helpful

Have fun,

Pat​