Installing Chicken Wire - OR - Take it back??

[tcp97b]

Just bought 1x1 chicken wire/poultry netting to install around my new run. It is a fixed run 20'x7'. The posts are spaced 8' on center, with the last post on each side being 4' from the previous. Looks like this:

x--------x--------x----x
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x--------x--------x----x

I attached the wire to the first post with staples, pulling it as taught as I could get it, then went to the second post. Did the same thing making sure to keep it as "square" as possible. However no matter how tight I pull it it still sags. I want a tight fence - is this possible with chicken wire? Should I just take it back and get 2x4 welded? I can't find anything smaller than 2x4.

Thanks,


Ty

 

[Zahboo]

Chicken wire keeps chickens in, not predators out. If you can afford welded wire I personally would go with that. Don't forget they can stick their heads up to their shoulders through the wholes. IF at all possible I'd use both. Put up the welded wire and then attache the chicken wire to it.

 

[enola]

In my opinion, the only thing "chicken wire" is good for is keeping chickens in. But, dogs, racoons and weasels are not kept "OUT" of the pen by poultry wire.

 

[tcp97b]

The predator issue is not huge. We are in town, I have never seen a coon around - not even as road kill. I also have never ever seen a weasel (we are in West Texas). The fenced run is in a backyard that also has a picket fence. I do have a dog, she is very gentle. I realize she could try to get through, but she is pretty small and the post are anchored 18" down in concrete, so if I can get the wire tight we will be OK. I'm just wondering if there is a trick to installing, or if I should just wrap it back up and get the welded wire. I can buy 100 feet of it for what I paid for my 150' of chicken wire.

Thanks!

 

[crazyhen]

Chicken wire is almost impossible to put up straight and to confuse it some more there is more than one grade of it. If possible I would go with the hardware cloth entirely. It can be tightened really well. It is almost preditor proof. No chicken can stick their heads through it to get bitten off either.
Preditors appear as if by magic where there is prey. I never saw the fox on my property until I got chickens. Now I worry about him as I have chicken wire. I have reinforced with better wire over most of the run and will completely reinforce it when money is available again. Its easier to do it right the first time and less expensive. Gloria Jean

 

[TinaK]

I managed to get chicken wire up straight.... its a mission though. I have had a bit of experience with it's use in fencing and It is definately not the friendliest of materials to use.

Generally if you pull it too tight you will start to open up the wire (break it). It is possible to get it taught, use have to use the same process as you would if you were stapling canvas to a frame (for art) or similar....

I have 80% of my run covered with Chiecken wire only (in a suburban backyard).... I've had good luck so far...... but it seems that you American's have some determined chicken predators!

Important Note - my chickens will run at my dog and try to peck her through the chicken wire... and they can stick their heads right out to get her... If I wasn't watching.. I couldnt guarantee the outcome.

I only get away with chicken wire because I have a fence down the middle of my yard that allows me to let the dog roam free, but without being in the same yard as my chickens...

 

[Morgan7782]

For my run, I have welded wire, buried about 5-6 inches into the ground, (and staked with tent stakes) and then reinforced with cyclone fencing, or 'chain link'. Talk about hard to work with! I was using a roll that had been rolled for.. Years. It's still in good condition, but man.. is it hard to cut!! On the coop, I am working off a metal dog crate/kennel. Adding plywood here and there, and hardwire before the plywood. I would be seriously surprised if any animal could reach my soon to be chickens

I am a firm believer in layers of fencing, personally using 2 or 3 layers. Plus, with the chain link OVER the welded wire fencing, it makes the holes very small. Creating these runs/coops is like an art! lol! I will also only be having 2-3 chickens, so different things may work.. differently heh.

 

[TheNewMrsEvans]

I would suggest returning the chicken wire. Get the welded wire, then run a 2' piece of hardware cloth around at the bottom.
Oh ya and my motto is "Never seen a raccoon on your property? Well then get some chickens!" They will come from miles around...little turds...

 

[perched]

Honestly, you can't be too careful when it comes to predators. I never saw a racoon out here until one ripped our turtles apart one night several years ago. Our chicken coop run is all hardware cloth, and we buried it all the way across the bottom so there isn't a corner or a seam some predator could sneak through. All the hard work pays off in the end when you have safe, happy birds and lots of fresh eggs!

 

[tcp97b]

Well, I took down what I had put up. Rolled it back up (it is almost

back to original size)..., and will return it to Lowes tomorrow. Let's hope they take it back.

Thanks for the help!

Ty