What size harware cloth?

[FaithAnn]

As most of you can relate, the cost of the hardware cloth for the coop and run is more than anything else. I bought 19 gauge, 1/2 in hardware cloth. Can I get by with something a little larger as far as the size of the mesh, something with one inch of one and a half inch holes?

 

[elmo]

I've heard of racoons reaching through the 1/2" by 1" inch wire, grabbing and dismembering birds by pulling parts of them through the wire (yeech). You could use the 1/2" by 1/2" wire on the bottom of your pen, but use the less expensive wire on the top half if you make sure not to put any roosts next to the wire.

 

[gkeesling]

you probably using hardware cloth to keep predictors out better than the chicken wire does. I used the 1/2 inch hardware cloth on the lower 3' of my run, then chicken wire on the upper 4'. We have raccoons. I wanted to be sure the racoon couldn't stick his paw through the wire and pull a hen's head off. I"ve read on here that people had headless chickens laying next to the wire.

 

[kajunchicken]

1/2 x 1/2 hardware cloth is what I used and have had no problems. I wouldn't go any larger than that.

 

[wombat]

I used some 1"x2" welded wire fencing we already had to make a walk-in run, then used 1/2"x1/2" hardware cloth around the bottom attached to the 6' tall fencing. Either do that, or just put 3' tall HW cloth around the bottom, and use cheaper wire for the next 3' or 4' above that.

If you have climbing predators or hawks, consider roofing the run as well.

I'd go with something like the welded wire 1"x2" I used for the top part over using chicken wire if you have racoons in your area. Chicken wire keeps chickens in, but it won't keep much of anything out.

 

[PDXModChick]

Tell me about it... I am in the middle of running hardware cloth 1/4" in a 12" trench around the exterior of the run and coop, my coop is only slightly raised as it is an old playhouse...

Does your local hardware store sell the plastic hardware cloth? Please do not get tempted by it's lower cost... Animals have strong teeth and can chew right through... I am however using it on the inside of the run to add an extra bit of protection...

 

[NellaBean]

Yes, do not use the plastic hardware cloth for anything other than decoration or possibly along the inside of STRONG mesh that has larger holes. We'll see how that works out with me, I plan on adding 2x4 14gauge mesh over this to repair it. Stupid dog. This took approximately 10 seconds of work to damage......

 

[socks]

Oh my, everyone is talking about using 1/2 " hardware cloth and I thought I was making the extravagant but safe choice of getting 1" cloth instead of the 1 1/2" by 2" stucco cloth that a friend recommended. Won't 1" square be good enough?? I am doing a hoop style run so everything will be covered in it.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Nor would I.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I promise you a coon can get that very agile little paw of his through 1".