the_henry•12d agoProlific Poster

Remember when we all thought chicken wire was enough to keep everything out?

I was out in the coop in my backyard in Tacoma about two years ago, just after dusk. Heard a huge racket and ran out with a flashlight. A raccoon had torn right through the chicken wire on the run and was inside. It got one of my Buff Orpingtons, Betty. I felt sick. The next day, I went to the hardware store and spent $127 on half-inch hardware cloth and replaced every single inch of that run. It took me a whole weekend and a lot of zip ties. Has anyone else had to make that switch after a predator got through? What did you end up using to secure it?

2 comments

2 Comments

jennifer_west12d ago

Chicken wire is basically a joke for keeping things out. It's only good for keeping chickens in. A raccoon can shred it like paper. Hardware cloth was the only thing that stopped the foxes around here. I used screws and washers on the wood frame, zip ties just don't hold up over time. That initial cost hurts but it's cheaper than losing more birds.

sean_murray12d ago

Buried the hardware cloth a foot deep too.