Hardware Cloth vs. Rabbit Cage Wire

[Chickcz]

Hello!

Have recently joined the site and finding such a wonderful amount of information about chickens. My family and I are going to build our first coop and run and it seems that hardware cloth is recommended wholeheartedly to protect against predation. I can only find 19 gauge hardware cloth.

One website I ran across recommended 14 gauge rabbit cage wire for coops and 17 gauge hex wire for the run. The website recommended against 19 gauge hardware cloth as it is not strong enough to prevent predators from ripping it apart.

I found 14 gauge, 1 x 2 mesh, 36 x 100 foot rolls for $162.50 plus shipping ($27.50). Would this be a good wire to use on a coop and run? 14 gauge does seem stronger.

http://www.bassequipment.com/Default.aspx?TabId=10

We are planning to use a 10 x 10 x 6 chain-link dog run as our chicken run and putting a 3 ft. skirt of wire around it to prevent digging under and then going up the sides with 3 feet of wire. I have seen many pictures where runs had that extra layer of wire going 3 feet up the sides instead of all the way to the top. Does this protect against racoons as I thought they could climb? Should the extra layer of wire go all the way to the top?

Thank you!

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad you joined. I am not up on all the gauge of wires but a tougher ga. wire is best and I would not get any wire that a preadator can reach through it. The smaller the hole the better.

 

[Kevin565]

 

[DDNONIN2016]

Hello and welcome from Southwest Ohio....good luck with your new coop

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I don't know what gauge our hardware cloth is on our coop but it's only 1/2" openings. Coon's can stick their nasty little paws through a 1 x 2" opening and grab chickens.

And yes, those coon's will climb your fence no matter what you put on it. Only way to keep them out of the run is to cover it. The wire going up the sides is only to prevent coons from reaching in and grabbing a hen as she goes by.

We made our run out of chain link dog run too, it has wire a couple feet up around the sides and has a shade cloth cover to prevent hawk attacks. It is in no way secure against nite time predators. For that they are locked in their coop at night.

Edited to add: If you have a big problem with coon's, or any other critter, running a strand or two of hot wire around the base of your coop/run is a very effective deterrant. Work's really great for roaming dogs too, just about anything.

 

[NonnasBabies]

Welcome from Louisiana!

That wire would be perfect!!

 

[greymane]

I would go with the wire.