Tips to Increase the Effectiveness of Chicken Wire

Origin of the Chicken Wire.

chicken with poultry net
The chicken wire provide a good place for that you can care to your chikens.

Chicken Wire is used to fence poultry livestock, commonly used in chicken coops and bird cages. This honeycomb mesh will keep your chickens flying out and deters flying predators like hawks. First created by Charles Barnard, an ironmonger, in 1844, its design was based on the cloth weaving machines. But if you are thinking about the security of your chicken, then you need to think twice before using it. The thinness and the zinc content of the galvanized wire may not protect your chickens. Other predators like raccoons, foxes or bears could slip inside as the wires are not sturdy enough to keep them out. Chicken wire was used traditionally to protect chickens. Over the years, many people have realized its benefits of extending its use to other activities. This galvanized wire can hold up to many elements. However, it is relatively cheap and rusts quickly. Hence for it to be most effective, it should run at least 1.2 mm gauge. You can increase the gauge as per your requirements like the kind of poultry you have.

Wide Range of Uses

This tool is more than used to build safe enclosures for chicken. It can turn out to be a whole lot more beneficial. It could act as a ‘Protection Covering’ to save your tender plants from hailstorms and frost. Just drape the cloth with the wire and the frame would be perfect to use in your garden. Secondly, it could serve as a ‘Pest Control’ tool that can keep small animals like bunnies, squirrels, and rats. All you have to do is sink the wire two inches underground to save it from being dug out. Thirdly, we all have eggs, fruits and small vegetables displayed in the baskets. You can make your basket more attractive by wrapping it with chicken wire, for aesthetic appeal. Moreover, it can also be shaped into shade along with a bulb and you are done with a vintage effect. From show pieces to stucco exteriors, it can be used in home interiors to have that mesmerizing effect.

Who Could Use this Tool?

hens in chicken house
You should consider several aspects when installing the chiken wires.

People in the field of Agriculture and Engineering make the most use of this kind of wire because of the economic, practical and safety value it gives. It can also be used by poultry owners or in the gardens as fencing.

How to Have the Maximum Use?

If you have decided that you have to use the chicken fence to protect your poultry, then there are some things in mind which you need to be kept while installing it.

  1. Planning – This is the first step of any activity and goes a long way in attaining your goals. Planning should never be underestimated. Before laying the way for the wire to be dug down, spend your time in planning where and how the fence needs to be laid. The type of animal to be protected like a rabbit should have a taller fence. Use the flexibility of this type of fence to your advantage.
  2. Use additional techniques – As stated earlier, this tool may not be robust enough to protect your poultry. One can make use of an electric fence to effectively ward off predators or combine with a barbed wire laid off on the exterior of the fence but not too much near the interior of the fence. After all, you do not want to harm your own chickens but the voracious predatory eying for the prey. You might also take help from your natural surroundings to make your wire sturdier like the bark of the trees could be used while laying the fence as it acts as an excellent barrier to withstand the attacks by the predators.
  3. Fencing to be laid effectively – This is where the diggers and the nibblers try and get inside your garden. Make sure that the fence run high and deep into the ground. The fence should be at least 6 to 8 inches deep to prevent diggers like rabbits to slip inside/outside your garden. So the wires and the stakes should be plunged deep into the ground.

Wire Mesh

black hens in chicken house in garden with poultry net
The wire mesh is a resistant and very durable option as least expensive as the chicken wire.

As compared to chicken wires, they offer more strength and durability because they are not easy to break in. It comes in different varieties and widely used in agricultural, industrial, infrastructure, horticultural and transportation sectors because it is least expensive and serves as an effective tool in any application. When installed in home premises, they are intended to serve for security purposes. This criss-cross mesh is used in day to day activities in the kitchen, window screens, and fences in the garden, wastebaskets. Decorative meshes are also available in case the interiors have to be made visually attractive.

Pigeon Control

They will often be attracted to human surroundings because of the comfort and availability of food and water. However, pigeon control becomes a big task. Thankfully we have various tools to protect our valuables from these birds. You only need to look at the size of the bird and the size of the hole in the mesh and choose one that would keep the birds from flying in. Chicken wires probably may not be the best option to keep the birds under control because of its sturdiness. Mesh can act as a good tool against birds’ exclusion. It is relatively straightforward to install. The gauges could run from 19 to 10. The best gauge to keep the birds off would be 10 – 12 gauges which are a heavy mesh or 50mm x 50 mm.

bird net installed on greenhouse
Using a bird barrier you can provide protection to: cropfield, garden, house against the birds attack.

It All Depends on How You Use It

Depending on your need, one can choose the usage. A chicken wire does more than keeping your chickens flying out. Running across from industries to homes, it finds its place everywhere because of the flexibility and the price. If you are an ardent fan of this tool, then combining it with techniques as penned down earlier, will increase its effectiveness.


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