What's the difference

[journey's end]

between hardware cloth and rabbit wire? I will be making a second coop over the winter and want to reinforce the run too. I built a small coop this spring with rabbit wire. Whatever it was that got in, literally tore the weld right apart. Is hardware cloth more durable? What about 16 gauge chicken wire (not the cheap 20 gauge that my hens can break). Is that durable enough?

 

[scooter147]

Chicken wire no!! Coons will chew through it.

On the rabbit wire, can't help, not sure what it is.

 

[weaveagarden]

I am not sure about rabbit wire either. But I have seen different weights of hardware cloth. What about using something else with the hardware cloth. I am not sure what, but Maybe a mesh of something more like security bars with the hardware cloth inside of that. It may keep the varmit from being able to get it's teeth to the cloth. Of course this would be possible on the 'house' vents and/or windows, but would be much too expensive for an entire pen. Unless you are the one with that winning lottery ticket I meant to buy.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Hardware cloth is rabbit wire

 

[fiberart57]

I've seen stuff called rabbit fencing that goes from wide spacing, like 2"x3" at the top to smaller spacing at the bottom. I think that you're supposed to use it in your garden, keeps rabbits out.

I have some and some of the welded connections are not strong and they do come apart.

One thing you can do is do a double fence. You could do chicken wire(not advised but possible) or hardware and then some 1"x2" field fencing if it was hardware cloth that was broken into. Then you'll have two layers of protection. Some friends of mine do this whenever they have a breach. I think they have about five layers now.

Mary

 

[shelleyd2008]

If it is the 1/2" rabbit wire that I think you're thinking of, it's the same thing as hardware cloth...it IS hardware cloth. Just a different name for the same thing. Make sure it isn't 'netting', which is what I think the above poster is referring to.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I always thought hardware cloth was 1/2 inch or smaller square holes an rabbit wire has 1/2 inch wide by 1 inch long holes.

 

[weaveagarden]

Quote:
My guess is that there is a bit of confusion because different places call hardware cloth different things.... And then there are several types of fencing that are sometimes refered to as rabbit (proof) fencing. Top that off with the fact that the original poster is from Canada where there may be different names, or perhaps even different products available.

I agree with you however. To me hardware cloth is the 1/4" mesh or 1/2" mesh. Rabbit fencing is ???? But I have seen the stuff that you refer to called cage cloth.

 

[marksbirds]

Hello, the 1/2" by 1", 2" and 3" is referred to as aviairy wire and is use mostly by exotic bird breeders. The 1/2" and 1/4" is mostly for rabbit cages.

 

[journey's end]

Sorry for the discrepency. What I'm talking about is 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch wire. We have it for our rabbit cages, and my indoor aviary too.

This is what I'm talking about. It's great for most things but something was able to break it at the weld. I need something stronger.