What fencing do you have for the duck pen? And why?

[Onlyducks]

Whether or no fencing will work depends on how tough it is and what you are trying to keep out. Hardware cloth is very study and very tough to punch through. I used an aluminum fence piece as a divider in my now-expanded pen. Poultry netting is not very good used alone, especially if it's over 1 inch openings (I have some 2 inch aluminum poultry netting that virtually any creature can tear apart--I have no idea what it's useful for as far as fencing critters.) Welded wire works, but the welds will break sometimes (it takes a while). I think that's what the Red Brand would be. You probably want small openings in the fencing. I guess the easiest way to decide is how hard is it to bend the fence. If it won't bend easily and has small openings, it should be okay.

 

[Going Quackers]

This is a corn crib.. it is strong..



But while the openings are small, they are not small enough to keep reach n grabs from say coons..

This is what i call page wire but it's also called field fence.. we have some that is graduated for the horses it's strong but unless you really nail it down at the bottom ducks can climb under it and through the openings...

 

[Going Quackers]

Whether or no fencing will work depends on how tough it is and what you are trying to keep out. Hardware cloth is very study and very tough to punch through. I used an aluminum fence piece as a divider in my now-expanded pen. Poultry netting is not very good used alone, especially if it's over 1 inch openings (I have some 2 inch aluminum poultry netting that virtually any creature can tear apart--I have no idea what it's useful for as far as fencing critters.) Welded wire works, but the welds will break sometimes (it takes a while). I think that's what the Red Brand would be. You probably want small openings in the fencing. I guess the easiest way to decide is how hard is it to bend the fence. If it won't bend easily and has small openings, it should be okay.

My 5ft is 2in, it's good for keeping birds in, no good for preds, i use it to contain the birds at dusk, they free range during the day and are locked into housing at night, point is it has purpose but depends on what you needs are.

 

[Learningstill]

This is a corn crib.. it is strong.. But while the openings are small, they are not small enough to keep reach n grabs from say coons.. This is what i call page wire but it's also called field fence.. we have some that is graduated for the horses it's strong but unless you really nail it down at the bottom ducks can climb under it and through the openings...

Have you ever had stray dogs or anything similar get through the field fence?

 

[Learningstill]

Whether or no fencing will work depends on how tough it is and what you are trying to keep out.  Hardware cloth is very study and very tough to punch through.  I used an aluminum fence piece as a divider in my now-expanded pen.  Poultry netting is not very good used alone, especially if it's over 1 inch openings (I have some 2 inch aluminum poultry netting that virtually any creature can tear apart--I have no idea what it's useful for as far as fencing critters.)  Welded wire works, but the welds will break sometimes (it takes a while).   I think that's what the Red Brand would be.  You probably want small openings in the fencing.  I guess the easiest way to decide is how hard is it to bend the fence.  If it won't bend easily and has small openings, it should be okay. 

Good idea to try and bend it, thanks. We do not have many predators. We had a hawk during the winter, but it seems to have left. I do hear dogs and I am trying to prepare for the day they become loose. We have never had raccoon or opossum. Our yard is completely privacy fenced except the roadside. We have a narrow acre. I just want to be prepared.

Prior to getting ducks, we had a pet pig. We went out and bought 3, 6ft high dog kennels thinking our Hope would be safe. One day while we were out of town we get a frantic call that our pig was attacked by a dog. We asked how and we were told the dog (a husky) broke into her kennel and locked itself in with her. The vet said he most likely attacked her multiple times. She survived, but not her spirit. She became extremely territorial and we had to give her away We miss her very much.

So that is the reason I want to do things right and get everyone's fence expertise and likes and dislikes. Thanks for responding.

 

[Onlyducks]

You definately want something other than the field fence. I have that around my five acres and dogs go over it and under it. It's pretty much useless against dogs--the small beagle we had went through the top openings in it. Hardware cloth is definately the way to go. Make sure everything is tight, you put something under it to keep things (ie dogs) from digging in and use a very secure lock (we use padlocks on things that have to be dog-proof). So far, the dogs that killed my ducks four years ago have not come back, or if they have they have not gotten into the cage. I use the chicken wire plus snow fence, tie everything together with tons of wire and cable ties and block every tiny opening I can find. The pen I have now can probably hold back a German Shepard, as it stayed in one piece even with way over 100 lbs of snow on it. The top collapsed, by none of the connections gave out and no animal would have been able to get in. The major things are: small openings, stiff wire, cover top, bottom and sides and used lots of nails, screws, staples or wire tires. Over build. Imagine you have nothing to do but try and get into the cage--then seal anything that you think you can in through.

 

[Going Quackers]

Have you ever had stray dogs or anything similar get through the field fence?

The problem with field fence is ducks can get through it, it's also climbable... my big dog? no she cannot get in it, but smaller dogs do(own those too lol) my ducks go through the field fence like it's a pathway lol

If you need 100% pred proof.. corn crib and then hardware cloth the first couple feet to prevent reach in's and then you need the top covered. Some will do totally hardware cloth but that can be even more costly. .. some will add hotwire too.