Chicken or poultry wire for run

[Reinbeau]

I know, I know, I've heard it over and over here, but I'm being told by two long time chicken owners here in my area to use this certain kind of chicken wire on my run. I've checked it out, and it does seem very sturdy, not flimsy like so much I've seen at Home Depot, etc. The trick to it is to seal the seams up - put a strip of wood down the post over the seam so raccoons can't get beneath/between. So I'm going for it. Hopefully they're both right - one lives in the woods and has all manner of wildlife all around her, she's kept chickens there for over 40 years and hasn't lost one yet to predators. The other is a bit younger, but has the same experience, she lives here in my town. I'll accept all the "I told you so"s if anything happens.

Edited to add: This is 1" poultry wire, and the gauge seems to be much thicker than most. I am not planning on letting them go in and out to the run as they please, either, they will be securely locked in at night and let out in the morning. I'm sure it'll be tested out really quickly, hubby saw a huge raccoon outside early on this morning, about an hour before dawn, and I've already seen the tail end of a grey fox going into the woods behind the coop.

 

[CarlaRiggs]

Hello, Ann ~

I use 'stucco wire', which is a chicken wire with an 18 gauge thickness. It's worked just fine. The trouble with the 1" hex size is the ability of those dang raccoons to reach in and grab a hen. If your girls are inside the coop when the predators come, then you'll be fine.

How are the bees doing?

Carla

 

[dixygirl]

Where do you find this stronger chicken wire?

Is it cost that is making you go for something other than proven welded wire? I only noticed $10 difference at home depot between a 50 foot roll of chicken wire and a 50 foot roll of welded wire. If you loose some chickens and have to replace them you will spend far more than $10 to restock and buy new fencing again.

I just wrote on here that night before last something tried to get into my pea pen which has welded wire all over but it is doubled with chicken wire around the bottom. Whatever it was ripped the chicken wire and lifted it up but could not bend the welded wire. Seeing that proved to me what everyone is saying. If i didn't have the welded wire there i probably would have walked out to see dead pea fowl.


Bear this in mind too. Chicken wire is put together by twisting a long roll of wire into the pattern. you can pull on it and stretch it loose. Welded wire is not just twisted at the bonds but actually bonded so it is really hard to stretch open a gap. So it is not only a difference in gauge but also a difference in how the fence is held together and how easily it can be unraveled.

Good luck with your decision.
Please keep us updated.


PS Could be that the people you spoke to don't know of any better options because that's all they've ever heard of and they're too set in their ways to change or learn any thing else now. Have you considered that they may be choosing to not remember all the losses they've really had over the years. People often act that way when they are in denial.

 

[Sylvie]

Carla,
What is stucco wire and what does it look like? After reading your post I called around building supply companies and all they have is very sharp diamond shape wire.
What type of store did you buy it from?

 

[dixygirl]

I can answer that one for you. Stucco wire is usually like chicken wire but it has a paper backing on it. It is used to apply stucco over a wooden structure.

The sharp diamond shape lath they were telling you about is for applying plaster to walls usually.

I am sure Carla will elaborate more.

 

[Reinbeau]

No, it's not that they don't know any better (did you miss the part where I said how long they'd been keeping birds in this area with this type of wire?). The younger girl sells all of the different types of wire, including welded wire. She said she didn't see spending the money where the stout poultry wire worked just fine in her experience. It would have been worth her while to get me to buy the welded wire, she's a co-owner of the store, but she advised me to not spend that kind of money, and I'm going to take her advice.

This thicker chicken or poultry wire isn't cheap, it's $82.99/75' roll (6' high). And I think Carla's got it right, this is thick, sounds like the same stuff she's using. As I said, at night they'll be tucked safely in their coop. As for 1" holes, I can't imagine a raccoon being able to pull anything through the holes, this wire doesn't flex and pull out of shape like the thinner stuff. The holes are too small, much smaller than the 1x2" welded wire. Smaller than that is hardware cloth, and I'm just not that rich. The run is 18' by 18', so they have room to roam and still be safe from all the critters, both on the ground and in the air.

Someday you all may be able to say I told you so, but from what I'm hearing, that won't be the case.

 

[dixygirl]

I hope it works out for you. Then we will have yet another option. Can you try to find a link for it on the internet or a name so we can learn more about this product please?

Is is similar to this Galvanize Expanded Metal Lath?

http://www.sembule.com

Or this Expanded metal lath?

http://www.mesteel.com/metex/

 

[Reinbeau]

My order is coming in on Thursday, I'll post a picture then. It really does look just like poultry or chicken wire, it's just beefier.

 

[CarlaRiggs]

I'm sooo tired of posting this same message ~ I realize some people 'got it' from mine and others' posting about wires, but still people remain ignorant. Most people, methinks, don't bother reading all the replies.

Stucco wire does NOT only come with paper attached. The photo you've posted, Dixy, is of stucco wrap, and has more than just the wire itself.

I purchased a roll of paperless stucco wire, 1" hexagon, 18 gauge WHICH MAKES IT HEAVIER THAN SOME WELDED WIRE/HARDWARE CLOTH!!! If you have chicken wire and it's easy to tear apart, then it's because the gauge is lighter. The higher the gauge #, the less strength of the wire.

COMPARING ANY TYPE OF WIRE TO ANOTHER DOESN'T MAKE SENSE UNLESS YOU KNOW THE GAUGE.

Some 'welded wire' will come apart easily at the welds, if the gauge is lightweight.

Ann, as for a raccoon getting its nasty little hand into the wire, apparently it can pull a chicken apart, small piece by small piece. Haven't seen it, don't know anyone personally who has experienced this, and I've only heard it through this forum.
Please post photos when you're through. I've enjoy the previous pics, and look forward to see how things are coming.

Carla

 

[dixygirl]

I have found the 18 gauge poultry wire on the internet and they claim it is twice as heavy as regular 20 gauge chicken wire. The smaller the number the heavier the product.
http://www.louispage.com/hexgaw.htm

The welded wire most often sold is 14 gauge so welded wire is several times heavier than even this double thick chicken wire. I would try it only if it is really a savings because it is lighter weight than standardly sold welded wire fencing.