Charles Barnard, an English ironmonger, invented chicken wire back in 1844. His hometown was Norwich, a city known for woven fabrics. In the process of applying the basic principles from the cloth loom to wire, he created a way to keep poultry and small animals in one place that was cheap, simple, and easy. In modern times, most people fence in their chickens with chicken wire fencing to keep them safe.
The purpose of this article is to discuss the pros and cons of using it, when it is appropriate and when it isn't.
Chicken wire is commonly thought of as poultry mesh, but it has a wide range of uses, from poultry wire to rock-fall barrier. Our familiar chicken wire is a thin, flexible wire (usually 18 or 20 gauge) woven into a hexagonal pattern. New chicken keepers are attracted to it because it is relatively inexpensive and easy to use.
When used as an internal barrier in the coop or run, chicken wire is a great choice. In the coop or existing run it can be used to safely and easily separate flock members or to introduce new flock members. It doesn't have to be super strong to keep them apart, so chicken wire will work perfectly.
Keeping chickens out of your garden is one of its best uses! Chicken wire is an inexpensive, easy way to protect the areas of your yard that you don't want chickens in, saving your flowers and veggies from an ignominious end.
Although chicken wire is called chicken wire, it does little to protect chickens, but it can be used along with other materials.
When it comes to protecting your flock, this is the material that you should choose. The chicken wire mesh is welded wire made from steel that comes in a variety of inch sizes, the half-inch mesh being the most effective since it has smaller holes. It is important to cover any places in the coop where predators might gain access with hardware cloth.
While animals are smart, when they come across hardware cloth, even digging predators usually give up and move on to a simpler meal.
Also, it can be used as chicken run covering, although you might as well use deer netting or bird/poultry netting over the top if you're using plastic because it's cheaper and easier to use to deter aerial predators or birds of prey such as hawks, eagles and owls. You can also use it to keep chickens out of your flower or veggie garden.
As a result of its flimsiness and easy destruction, it has no place in protecting chickens from predators.
Let us know in the comments section below if you use chicken wire and where you use it.
The purpose of this article is to discuss the pros and cons of using it, when it is appropriate and when it isn't.
Chicken Wire: What Is It?
Chicken wire is commonly thought of as poultry mesh, but it has a wide range of uses, from poultry wire to rock-fall barrier. Our familiar chicken wire is a thin, flexible wire (usually 18 or 20 gauge) woven into a hexagonal pattern. New chicken keepers are attracted to it because it is relatively inexpensive and easy to use.
Chicken Wire: When to Use
Chicken wire should only be used to keep chickens in, not predators out!! If you want to keep predators at bay, use hardware cloth.When used as an internal barrier in the coop or run, chicken wire is a great choice. In the coop or existing run it can be used to safely and easily separate flock members or to introduce new flock members. It doesn't have to be super strong to keep them apart, so chicken wire will work perfectly.
Keeping chickens out of your garden is one of its best uses! Chicken wire is an inexpensive, easy way to protect the areas of your yard that you don't want chickens in, saving your flowers and veggies from an ignominious end.
Chicken Wire: When Not To Use
There are three main problems with chicken wire as predator protection:- It is not strong enough.
- Holes in the weave can be easily penetrated by predators.
- Bantams and small chicks can become caught in the weave.
Although chicken wire is called chicken wire, it does little to protect chickens, but it can be used along with other materials.
Chicken Wire Alternatives
Hardware Cloth
When it comes to protecting your flock, this is the material that you should choose. The chicken wire mesh is welded wire made from steel that comes in a variety of inch sizes, the half-inch mesh being the most effective since it has smaller holes. It is important to cover any places in the coop where predators might gain access with hardware cloth.
While animals are smart, when they come across hardware cloth, even digging predators usually give up and move on to a simpler meal.
Plastic Chicken Wire
Chickens of different ages can be separated by this barrier as they acclimate to each other.Also, it can be used as chicken run covering, although you might as well use deer netting or bird/poultry netting over the top if you're using plastic because it's cheaper and easier to use to deter aerial predators or birds of prey such as hawks, eagles and owls. You can also use it to keep chickens out of your flower or veggie garden.
As a result of its flimsiness and easy destruction, it has no place in protecting chickens from predators.
Summary
When it comes to keeping your backyard flocks safe and secure, chicken wire has limited uses. Using chicken wire is possible at certain times and places, as we have seen. However, hardware cloth is a more effective defense. The most important thing is that your chicken coop is secure at night – locked up so that predators cannot gain access.Let us know in the comments section below if you use chicken wire and where you use it.
