Why hardware cloth? What's the benefit?

[DangerChickenHouse]

It's sooo expensive! Why not just chicken wire?

 

[saddina]

Quote:
Because raccoons, and other predators can rip thru chicken wire and eat your flock.

 

[ranchhand]

Hardware cloth is MUCH stronger, especially when attached with screws and washers.

Read a bit in the predators section- chicken wire is for keeping chickens in, not for keeping predators out.

 

[ErinG]

Not the place to skimp on costs unfortunately. It is expensive, but it is an investment.

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Because raccoons, and other predators can rip thru chicken wire and eat your flock.

x2. Trust us.

Dogs can take out chicken wire quite easily, too. It's called chicken wire because it keeps chickens in or out, not predators.

 

[SallyF]

Raccoons can reach through chicken wire and grab any part of a chicken they can reach. They can pull baby chicks right through the wire. Chicken wire is a fairly thin gauge twisted wire and can be easily torn by heavier animals, such as coyotes or dogs. Hardware cloth is a welded wire which usually has smaller openings and is stronger. You get what you pay for!
The only time I use chicken wire is for temporary pens inside a stronger structure. It also works as a wrap-around for a chain-link structure, so the coons can't reach through the chain link.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

I just invested in a dog kennel for a run. It's strong metal and we haven't had any issues with predators breaking in. If you want added protection, you can bury some wire or bricks around the kennel to prevent them from digging under.

 

[hencackle]

Those little raccoon "hands" are deceptively strong! Our county fair always has a wildlife exhibit which includes raccoons. I knelt down to allow the raccoon to reach through and grab finger and oh wow, what a grip...that told me I was glad to have hardware cloth over the window openings.

 

[gryeyes]

The first time you find a dead, headless chicken dismembered through chicken wire,you will understand the necessity of hardware cloth.

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
I have 3 dog kennel chain link runs. The tops are covered with wire/chain link and the bottoms are surrounded by hardware cloth. I really beefed them up a lot when I set them. I was pretty sad and sickened to find a beheaded, gutted chicken inside the run the other day, with feathers all around the outside. Apparently, we finally have a raccoon out here in the sticks, after 7 years of no raccoons. And it attacked during the day.

They really need major reinforcement to truly keep predators out. I have faced dogs, foxes, fisher cats (minks) and opossums, and now raccons. Biggest shock was seeing how well a fox can climb and wiggle in!