Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: lightyears on July 23, 2009, 17:11

Title: Which wire
Post by: lightyears on July 23, 2009, 17:11

Ive finally got round to building my chicken encloser after 3 months, ive read somewere that regular chicken wire isnt no good, can anyone recomended which wire would be good for the fencing
?

Title: Re: Which wire
Post by: poultrygeist on July 23, 2009, 17:13

Hi lightyears. Well done  :)

You want welded mesh. Minimum 19g and max mesh size of 25mm x 25mm. If you use 25 x 13, you should keep out rats too. :)

Rob 8)

Title: Re: Which wire
Post by: joyfull on July 23, 2009, 17:14

Hi lightyears, you need galvanised welded wire mesh (a few of us on here use hills of devon for this who do next day delivery and seem to be the very best price wise.). get a thick guage with small holes.

Title: Re: Which wire
Post by: lightyears on July 23, 2009, 17:19

cheers guys, ive found hills online, there mesurements are all in inches instead of mm, which one would it be, ?

would it be 1inchx0.5 inch?

Title: Re: Which wire
Post by: poultrygeist on July 23, 2009, 17:25

Yup  :D

25mm = 1 inch (ish)
13mm = 1/2 inch (ish)

900mm = 3ft (ish)
1200mm = 4ft (ish)
1800mm = 6ft (ish)

Rob 8)

Title: Re: Which wire
Post by: lightyears on July 23, 2009, 17:33

cool, thanks, i was thinking of buying two packs of the 30Metre 1200mm high, 1x1/2 inch stuff at £48 from hills of devon, does that seem alright, it works out enough for how big my enclosure is, is it ok for mr fox and the rat pack.

Title: Re: Which wire
Post by: poultrygeist on July 23, 2009, 17:37

It should keep out both, providing you have a stout framework and make sure neither can burrow under the edges.
ie. bury some mesh or something solid around the edges.

Also, foxes can jump/clamber over 6ft fences so you'll need it high enough and/or have a roof on. A solid roof will also keep out the rain, which stops the runs becoming smelly very quickly when the run 'ferments' in the wet.

ROb 8)

Title: Re: Which wire
Post by: joyfull on July 23, 2009, 17:40

I really think hills should give this site commision the amount of work we put their way  :D

Title: Re: Which wire
Post by: lightyears on July 23, 2009, 17:44

Quote from: poultrygeist on July 23, 2009, 17:37

It should keep out both, providing you have a stout framework and make sure neither can burrow under the edges.
ie. bury some mesh or something solid around the edges.

Also, foxes can jump/clamber over 6ft fences so you'll need it high enough and/or have a roof on. A solid roof will also keep out the rain, which stops the runs becoming smelly very quickly when the run 'ferments' in the wet.

ROb 8)

ive got 10 foot posts, so the min it will be 8 foot high, plus a bloke at my site has supplied me with some fencing that faces out like its bent.so the fox can climb but thats about it.

Title: Re: Which wire
Post by: the ancient one on August 04, 2009, 23:14

Quote from: joyfull on July 23, 2009, 17:40

I really think hills should give this site commision the amount of work we put their way  :D

What a great firm. Sent an enquiry to Hills of Devon on Friday, had a reply Saturday evening, ordered 13mm welded mesh on Sunday evening, arrived Tuesday lunch time - a good price and brilliant service. Now I can start on the run and coop, but still waiting for my books from Broad Leys though, so will have to make my own design.
Oh, and have to find some chickens, wonder if the dog will hatch a few eggs for me!

Title: Re: Which wire
Post by: GrannieAnnie on August 04, 2009, 23:18

We get ours from Hills now too!  Brilliant firm!

Title: Re: Which wire
Post by: dizzylizzie on August 05, 2009, 05:02

so did we ,and they were fab! :D