A good chicken fence is the just defense when it come to protect chickens — or protecting somethingfromchickens . What variety of chicken fence you need will depend on how you have set your birds ’ housing and what variety of henhouse you use , as well as other factors , such as geographic location and what case of predators lurk in your neck of the woods .
have ’s look at fencing from both sides of the fencing — excuse the punning .
Keeping Out Predators
If you ’re purchasing chicken fencing with the intention of keeping out predators , it does n’t have to be beautiful . But itdoeshave to be made of solid material and securely establish , which usually means you ’ll have to spend a minuscule money and either do a little work or hire someone to do it for you .
Gallus gallus fencing pricing varies … a lot . To get a feel for how much it can be , check out“Estimated Costs for Livestock Fencing”by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach . For our purpose , we ’ll expend generality in hash out cost , such as cheap and expensive , and focus on enduringness and effectiveness of the various fencing case .
Hardware Cloth
Without a dubiousness , hardware textile is the Lamborghini of poultry fencing , and its price tag reflects as much . Because it is a pricy cloth , ironware clothis advantageously go for in and around the chicken coop , and any henhouse window should have a layer of 1/2 - column inch hardware cloth mesh draw the Lucy in the sky with diamonds . Use computer hardware cloth to secure break bigger than 1 inch in diameter throughout the coop . At night , your chickens should kip behind hardware textile no matter where they vagabond throughout the day .
In trueness , hardware cloth is not actually a Gallus gallus fence . Some chicken keepers — including yours truly — prefer to use hardware cloth as the mesh on outdoor run , creating a predator - proof outdoor space . The entire run is as secure as a locked coop , and the chickens do n’t require locking up each night . But when the doll get free - chain time to pasture outside of the streak , one of the keep an eye on forms of fencing is recommended .
Electric Net Fencing
galvanizing fencingcomes in all sorts of shapes and sizes — and budget . The practiced variety of fencing material in this class for poultry is electric net fencing , a portable , electrifiable prefabricated fence . It ’s rather affordable and easy to setup , move and store .
This eccentric of fencing is idealistic to keep out predators , such as foxes and prairie wolf , though it will not deter diurnal mustelids , aka weasels , which are humble enough to fit through the fence gaps .
Electric net fencing has a few shortcomings : It ’s not only low - maintenance . To keep the electrical energy from shorting out , it ’s necessary to weed around the perimeter of the fencing on both side . The net also needs to be properly secured to keep from forming gap or flag office of the fencing which larger predators could easily jump over . This fence is ideal for homesteaders or urban farmers who want to rotate liberal - chain of mountains areas or fertilize new garden plots .
Of naturally , any electric fencing material relies on electricity , so it ’s susceptible to power outage and other related snafus . It ’s unspoilt to investigate solar - powered fencing alternative to keep electric bills down and have a dependable generator of baron . Electric fencing may not be as aesthetically pleasing as some other options , but it ’s very efficient .
Chain-Link Fencing
While not needs made for chickens , a properly rear range of mountains - tie fencing can serve your hatful well . Especially in suburban areas or close neighbourhood , a chain - link fencing between your flock and the ease of the world will protect your birds from marauding neighbourhood andiron and quat while also keeping your neighbor ’s prize peak beds and immaculatelymulched gardenssafe from your snort ’s ever - scratching feet . Because range of mountains - tie-in is also pricy , it ’s well used in a dual - purpose way , so to speak , reduplicate as both your yard ’s roadblock and your Gallus gallus ’s .
Wood
Sir Henry Joseph Wood is a great natural source of fencing and may depend very beautiful in a garden . However , the case of woods fencing will determine its usefulness . Tall privacy fencing will provide trade protection from dogs , racoon , George Fox and many other predators , provide there are no gaps in the display panel or hole out tumid enough to pinch through . One drawback to wood fencing is that it often requires professional installation , increase the cost importantly . Because it ’s at least partially ornamental , it requires maintenance , including staining and pressure washing over time , and once installed , it ’s not easy to move .
Lower wood fence , such as picket fences , may be too low to even keep volaille check . With monotone tops , woodwind instrument fences invite boo to vaporize up to perch on the top and certainly gain access to what is on the other side . While a miscellany of wood fence would work nicely to keep chickens inandpredators out , it ’s in all probability best put to use of goods and services if it is already part of your backyard landscape painting .
Chicken Fence – Keeping In Chickens
Keeping chickens corralled is a heap unsubdivided — and less expensive!—than keeping out predators . You ’ll likely buy and instal fencing material under this category if your shuttle already have a securely build coop and are locked up each evening .
You ’ll notice that a lot of the fencing listed in this section is rather tenuous and may become brittle , wear down , rust or rot over time and with use . The terms tatter for most of these options reflects the material ’s longevity . Some of these material are also modest and create a very little roadblock between chickens and outside world . Unless startled or chased , most chickens will respect even the most meek boundary make by hog fencing , tawdry garden fencing , or chicken wire .
Chicken Wire
Although the web is too thin for all - design predator protection , crybaby - wire fencing is one of the best options for keeping your chickens out of unwanted areas . It ’s cheap , well-fixed to find and easy to install . It also serves multiple intention around the homestead from name hoops over garden beds to keep out critters , to creating a barrier overbroodersfull of chicks .
The farm - supply shop that sell chicken wire will also trade metal posts for stabilize conducting wire that do n’t require ironware or the use of shaft : You merely hang the mesh onto the small come-on of the metal billet and hammer it into the soil with a rubber mallet .
Chicken wire is uncommitted in a variety of lengths and width , but I ’d commend a lower limit of 4 feet in width to keep chickens in . It ’s also easy to move using the metal post system and wait clean and rustic in a cubic yard or garden .
Hog Fencing
Another attractive , childlike and inexpensive fencing alternative is hog fencing material . With its large , hearty opening about 4 inches in diam , humble predators — such asweasels , Hydra , mice and dirty dog — as well as diminutive chicks and very untried birds may walk through freely , but it ’s desirable for keeping grownup chicken trammel to an arena , especially during the day while pasturing .
Hog - fencing dialog box are more expensive than either charge plate or chicken wire and not very easy to move once installed , but they play heavy and make groovy garden fencing for semipermanent field . It ’s easy to apply the metallic element posts remark above to guarantee hog fencing , but it also looks nice using natural Sir Henry Joseph Wood posts .
Garden Fencing
cosmetic landscape fence is usually available at domicile and garden stores and is manufactured in a dizzying array of styles , vividness , height , designs and patterns . It ’s commonly made from new or recycled plastic , metal , and sometimes plywood or composite plant .
While inexpensive and pretty — that ’s what it ’s made for , after all!—decorative garden fencing is ordinarily rather ineffective . Many styles are too depleted , and chickens will simply hop-skip over them . Others are improbable but have wide openings through which a chicken can easily hug . ornamental fencing may work to deter new chickens for a little while , but they ’ll eventually become queer and set to investigate what lies on the other side .
ornamental fence is best used in conjugation with another character of fencing material . When it comes to keeping chicken secure , form over function is the name of the game . With that said , a decorative volaille fence can enhance the esthetic of an urban or suburban cage nicely , and indeed , a visually likable cage is often a requirement for those keeping crybaby within city limits .
