What predator can do this?

[EggSighted4Life]

The 1/2 inch is stronger. I made the mistake of ordering the 1/4, then found out the 1/2 inch is better so I sent it back and got the 1/2 inch.

I think so too... I could do some testing since I still have both... but to be real... time is too short.

So I would suggest 1/2 inch over the smallest you can find. These are the things we discover through trial and error.

 

[aart]

Does the smaller gauge offer more protection or simply become easier to chew through?

Depends on if they can get a tooth engaged.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Depends on if they can get a tooth engaged.

True.

Easier to rip through, with a claw?

 

[aart]

True.

Easier to rip through, with a claw?

Probably 1/4" 23ga would be easier to tear with claw due to smaller wire thus smaller welds than 1/2" 19ga.
The weld would break first I would think.
I really think the difference is negligible if mesh is properly installed and attached.
But really 1/2" HC in combo with a 14 gauge mesh is best against preds large and small.
It depends on where the mesh is(coop or run), how big a span it is covering, how close the attachment points(on solid framing) are, what the predator load is(what animals and how long they have to work at it)......it's been said that a fox or coyote can bite thru 14ga wire like wire cutters.

 

[Kris5902]

The 1/2 inch is stronger. I made the mistake of ordering the 1/4, then found out the 1/2 inch is better so I sent it back and got the 1/2 inch.

All depends on what the guage the wire is... all the hardware cloth I’ve got is the same from 1/4”-1” 19 guage... my thought is unless it is a larger guage, the smaller holes are better as there are more contact points... it depends on what you have available I suppose. You could use a finer mesh then reinforce it with heavier fencing if large predators (bob cats, cougars, coyotes, dogs) are a problem.

I wouldn’t want to stop a bear... a North Vancouver farm I once visited had to bear proof their bee hives... they were basically enclosed in reinforced steel cages and chain link anchored deeply into concrete! Let’s be thankful for not having to deal with that!

 

[Kris5902]

And rats! I was mostly thinking about the evil little things gnawing into your coop through the wood... wrapping that in the finer mesh... lining the underside of the floor with it... it works for our old coop for sure! Because rats can create entry points for larger critters...

 

[beckylm]

Come to find out....it is a mink. Christmas night we left their door open for them to go in their gated yard area. The next day we went to get rat traps. Came home and my favorite little duck buddy who was also the most dominant was dead. It was pulled under the duck house. We’ve put traps out and tracked it and saw it. It goes between my pond and the neighbors pond. Still trying to get it because my babies aren’t safe. I will get justice for my little buddy.

 

[Kris5902]

Best of luck in catching the little monster, and protecting your flock from it permanently. Just remember when you’re looking into traps to be aware of other non-target animals that might get into them. There were some problems recently in my area with dogs getting caught by mistake along someone’s trap line that was near a hiking path.

This is why I prefer live traps, so you can confirm it is the target animal before applying a permanent solution.