Wealed vs Hardwire?

[the Precious Ladies]

Whats the difference between wealed wire and hard wire cloth?
Thanks ~

 

[teach1rusl]

Are you talking about welded wire? Or is wealed wire an actual type of wire? If so, I'm not sure, as I haven't heard of it. If you're mistaken though, and mean welded wire, then THAT I do know. Welded wire is "welded" at the joints, and is a much thicker wire than hardware cloth. Also, the spaces/openings are HUGE compared to hardware cloth.

Okay...I notice you say hardwire too, so I may be TOTALLY off track...lol

I thought you were talking about hardware cloth...lol

 

[the Precious Ladies]

Opps,

, yeah I meant welded and hardware, sorry
thank you though

 

[kathyinmo]

Here is a picture of welded wire ...

http://www.academyfence.com/galvanizedweldedwirefence.html

Here is a picture of hardware cloth ...

http://www.twpinc.com/twpinc/control/category/~category_id=TWPCAT_4

 

[CoyoteMagic]

You can use the welded wire for a good portion of your run if you aren't afraid of rodents or snakes getting in (My chickens eat them so they don't worry me, lol) 2x4 is the most common size. 2x2 would be even better. You couild do your run completly with either one and use the hardware cloth or even chicken wire on the inside of it to keep critters from reaching in and grabbing chickens or small chicks getting out.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Actually, I think that link to the TWP webpage is welded wire, too.

There are two basic types of wire: welded and woven. With welded wire, the horizontal and vertical strands are welded together, either before or after the galvanization process. With woven wire, the vertical and horizontal strands are simply twisted to connect. Welding makes a stronger more secure connection than weaving. Chicken wire is woven wire.

There are two other factors: wire gauge or thickness, and wire spacing. The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire strand (opposite of what you'd think). The wire spacing is, pretty obviously, the size of the openings between the horizontal and vertical strand.

Many people recommend wire spacing of no greater than 1/2" by 1/2" inch because this prevents a predator from reaching through the wire to grab at your birds. I've read about people who've had their birds dismembered and pulled through wire openings as small as 1/2" by 1" (dove pens, primarily).

I use 19 gauge vinyl coated welded wire and it's pretty strong, although I wouldn't want to test this against some of the bigger predators some people have to contend with. I have used the 16 gauge for a small project and that stuff is extremely strong, and accordingly very hard to cut with wire cutters. I think my hand is still sore from that project. Chicken wire is usually 20 or 23 gauge, although I have seen some 17 gauge.