Where do you buy or order your hardware cloth? Also, a bedding Q

GallusGal

Songster
11 Years
Jul 20, 2008
157
4
119
Alabama
I'm wondering where folks get their hardware cloth, preferably reasonably priced. One problem I am having is that I can't seem to find rolls bigger than 50 ft long nor as tall as 4ft. I essentially need something that is 4ftx100ft to complete my current coop project, and don't really feel like having to buy a ton of 3ft by 25ft rolls since it hardly seems cost effective. I want my birds to be 100% safe but all I can find in the size that I need is welded wire for fencing, which simply won't do.

While I'm asking questions, what do you use as bedding in the indoor portion of your coop? I'm looking for something safe and absorbent that won't break the bank. I am leery of the pine shavings at TSC even though they are cheap because they have a very strong odor, but at the same time if I pay $9/bale for Aspen this is going to get pricey fast as the new indoor area is quite large. I get free fine hardwood shavings (not sawdust but not big shavings like you would buy in bales at TSC) from a local mill that I use to raise my rodent colonies, but I was worried that the fine shavings might be ingested by the birds and cause crop impactions. Reasonable concern?

Input appreciated on both, thank you
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Yeah, their prices are great. Unfortunately, their 100ft roll is sold out! And I still need to find a 4ft by 100ft as opposed to the more popular 3ft by 100ft. 36" means I'd have to spend more to buy that extra foot to go along the top, as the frame is precisely 4ft. I think at this point I'm going to have to do my math and see if just buying several 25ft rolls is cheaper than one big roll once shipping is factored in. How frustrating. You'd think they'd carry bigger rolls of the stuff at livestock supply stores!
 
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Why not ask you local feed store or hardware store to order it in for you? If they're a decent local business, they'll do it, and you won't have to pay for shipping.
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Careful that you apply apples to apples when comparing wire prices. Often, inexpensive wire will be galvanized before weld, which doesn't last as long as wire that's galvanized after welding. Wire that is galvanized before welding tends to rust at the connections and especially if the wire is a high gauge, can rust right through and come apart there.
 
I bought two rolls from Academy fencing. I lined one side of the run with 1/2 inch vinyl coated material but it is only 19 gauge. The rest of the run I used the 1" vinyl coated and it is much stronger (16 gauge). I am very happy with the vinyl coated material. You can hardly see it.

http://www.academyfence.com/vinylcoatedcolorpvcweldedwire.asp#1x1

http://www.academyfence.com/hardwirecloth.html#1/2x16gauge

I searched far and wide and Academy had the best prices. They ship fast and are pleasant to deal with.
By the way, all of this stuff is imported. It is the only part of my coop that isn't USA made material.
 
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