Welded Wire?

[jgaepi]

You can tell I am a newbie by my onslaught on posts today.

I keep hearing that hardware cloth is best. I just ran across the street from my work and compared hardware cloth to welded wire. 1/2in X 1/2in hardware cloth compared to 1in X 1/2in welded wire is similar in price. The welded wire just seems more heavy duty. Why wouldn't welded wire be better? Does anyone have any pictures of using either or? I plan to buy the heavy duty steel 72in tall wire stakes. Any thoughts? Thank you.

I am nearing decision time over slighting altering a purchased chicken coop and then building on a run. At best I could build a 8ft X 4ft run, at about 2.5 ft high. It would take a lot of time, wood and hardware cloth. I would have to cut out a section of my coop floor and then create a drop down ladder. I would be capped at 3 hens like this. Or I could leave the coop as is, then build a chicken run around it, creating a roughly 80sqft run, for 4 hens. I can't make up my mind. The built on run would help control all predators. But I would like the hens to have more freedom. Any thoughts?

 

[arcatamarcia]

1/2 hardware cloth will keep out rodents. 1" X 1/2 welded wire won't.

 

[welasharon]

Or snakes...and critters can stick their paws in and pull chickens through the wire. My first pens are all hardware cloth on all sides but I recently built a new pen 8x20 out of 2x4 wire and then put 24" of hardware cloth along the bottom.
sharon

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Welded wire works fine for most situations

Hardware cloth might keep out some big rats, but a mouse won't even slow down running through it

Anything larger than a rat won't go through 1/2 X 1.

Even 2 X 4 welded wire will keep out 99% of predators as long as it's on the run and not the coop itself

 

[ivan3]

We use the 6ft. 1"x2" welded wire for main fencing. The .5" hardware cloth for the windows of coop/shed (also covered the underside of plywood flooring with HC as well (and use steel wool around entrances, in floor, for electric cordage - keep the mice out a little better in the winter). Price on 72" 1"x2" at MFA, here in MO., $4.35 a foot (just bought another 50', to extend turkey run, last week).

If your situation allows it netting over run (why 6ft. is worth it) and a couple lines of electric on outside of fencing will make it about as safe as it can be. Coons can climb HC and welded wire fencing.

 

[FarmerMel]

You could do what sharon does, because hardware cloth is expensive!

 

[pshay4]

Welded cage wire (the type used for rabbit cages) is far superior to hardware cloth. The initial wire size is larger, then welded, and finally galvanized (if you buy galvanized after welded wire-which lasts longer). Hardware cloth is smaller, softer wire which is galvanized, but not welded. Raccoons and dogs can tear holes in hardware cloth with little effort. 1/2 x 1" welded wire is ideal for coops, but very expensive. Lasts a very long time.

 

[georgiagail]

Have you considered using a dog kennel as your run?

Gail

 

[jgaepi]

I don't have the backyard dimensions to support plus it doesn't look very nice. Although you are probably right and would solve any predator issue.

 

[welasharon]

Quote:
Not the hardware cloth I use. It is anything but soft and takes heavy cutters to cut it. It is 1/2 welded mesh...although I don't remember the gauge right off hand.