welded wire or chain link.

[burntmuch]

New at the chicken thing. My coop is about done, very secure. Working on my run. Its 12ft by 24 ft. The guy at TSC told me to use chicken wire. Ive got 6ft walls covered with chicken wire. After doing some reading here, sounds like I need stronger fence. I have acess to some welded wire & chain link. Which would be better. Is welded wire gonna stop a skunk. or would it be able to squeeze through? Im working on the roof in the next couple days. Which would work better, Ive got lots of hawks in the area. Im thinking I can just add chain link over the chicken wire, then use welded wire for the roof. Would a hawk be able to squeeze through.

 

[outback hatcher]

i used have both and just put chicken wire on to cover the large holes.
as for the roof the chicken wire should be fine it keeps the hawks out here

 

[teach1rusl]

Either would work over your chicken wire. I do have a welded wire "roof," but most just use chicken wire. I guess I figure raccoons are great climbers, so if I'm going to the trouble of strengthening the sides to deter them...if chicken wire supposedly is not enough to deter them on the sides, why would it be good enough to deter them as a roof??? They're just working up an appetite having to go to the trouble of climbing up the fence to tear through the wire???

 

[burntmuch]

Do you think a coon could squeeze thru the welded wire??

 

[Swampwood]

I think a small coon could try to get through 4x4 wire but not 2x4.

JMO..Never tried to squeeze one through

 

[patandchickens]

Yer smallest-gauge baby possums and baby raccoons can go through 2x4 welded wire, but the larger ones can't. I would absolutely not use anything with any larger mesh than 2x4, though, as then you get the adults able to slip through.

Pat

 

[Swampwood]

I'm in the same delema as you now.. I don't know if I should go with chain link or 2x4 wwire?? A bout same price too.

 

[trinityfly]

We use welded wire fence. I like "Red Band" 10 gauge wire fence in 5 ft. height and 2x4 field fencing. Can a coon squeeze through -No. Can a coon climb the fence-Yes. Can a skunk squeeze through a the 2x4 wire-depending on size and species (we have spotted skunks here that are smaller members of the skunk clan) -Yes.

One good option is the same fencing material as mentioned above but use "Rabbit Fencing" which has 2x2 mesh on the bottom 2 ft of the field fence. It is a little more expensive but negates the necessity of adding chicken wire over the bottom.

Chain link is in my opinion by far the best fencing but is way, way more expensive to buy and install.

For our chicken house and run (we call it Fort Birdie) we went way over the top with "1/4" hardware cloth" buried 18" into the ground and 18" extending up the walls of both enclosures. The run has both field fencing and a layer of chicken wire on all sides. One big mistake we made that cost us the lives of some of our birdie friends was a 2X4 hole in the gate that allowed us to open and close the latch from either side of the door. This is what made the incursion. We could hardly believe it:

Plan ahead and thoughtful reaction is the best way to handle the safety of our chicken friends

 

[Swampwood]

Turns out I'm in Mink heaven.. Looks like I'd need 1x1 to make my safe. Guess my coop will have to be 1x1 fort knoxed for night, the run chain-link, guard dog for the days.