Chicken wire, formally known as poultry netting, is a thin, flexible barrier designed primarily to keep domestic birds contained, not to exclude determined wildlife. Characterized by its twisted, hexagonal mesh pattern and light wire gauge (often 19 to 22 gauge), its construction offers only minimal protection against common threats. The material’s effectiveness depends heavily on the size and strength of the animal attempting to breach the enclosure. A secure enclosure requires understanding these limitations and using chicken wire only for appropriate, low-risk applications.
Understanding the Material’s Limitations
The inherent weakness of chicken wire lies in its physical composition and method of construction. The wire itself is made from a thin gauge, meaning it has a lower diameter and less strength compared to thicker materials. This thin wire can be easily bent, torn, or chewed through by animals with moderate jaw strength or sharp claws.
The hexagonal, twist-weave pattern, while flexible and easy to install, is its most significant structural vulnerability. This design causes the wire to separate easily when pulled or stressed at the intersection points. Unlike welded wire, where each intersection is fused, the twisted sections of chicken wire pull apart under sustained pressure, allowing a determined predator to create an opening.
Standard galvanized steel chicken wire offers limited longevity, as the thin material is susceptible to rapid rust and corrosion, especially in damp conditions. This degradation further compromises its already low tensile strength. This combination of thin gauge, weak weave, and vulnerability to environmental decay makes it a poor choice for any application requiring true predator exclusion.
Predators Chicken Wire Can Deter
Chicken wire is most effective as a visual barrier or a containment system for the animals it is meant to protect. It functions well for keeping chickens, ducks, or other poultry within a defined area. The material’s height and physical presence can discourage opportunistic, non-aggressive animals that prefer not to jump or climb.
For aerial threats, chicken wire can provide suitable overhead cover for a run, preventing birds of prey like hawks and owls from swooping down. The mesh size, even with 1-inch to 2-inch openings, is typically small enough to block the direct flight path of raptors. The wire’s light weight is an advantage, making it easier to install as a roof or canopy.
The wire may also deter very small, non-burrowing rodents like large mice or small rats, particularly when the mesh openings are small. However, this deterrence is not reliable against persistent pests. For these low-stakes applications, the affordability and ease of handling make chicken wire a practical, temporary solution.
Predators Chicken Wire Cannot Stop
Many common backyard predators can breach chicken wire with ease because of its weak structure. Raccoons, known for their dexterity and strength, can pull and tear the thin wire mesh apart, often by grabbing the material at the edges or where it is stapled to wood. They can also reach through the typical 1-inch or 2-inch hexagonal openings to injure or kill poultry, pulling parts of the bird through the mesh.
Foxes and coyotes are not deterred by the wire’s lack of strength and primarily defeat it through digging. These canids will burrow under the perimeter of an enclosure, which chicken wire rarely extends deep enough to prevent. They possess the necessary jaw strength to chew or tear at the wire if they encounter it, especially if the wire is already stressed or compromised.
Smaller but equally destructive predators, such as weasels, mink, and large rats, can often slip through or easily chew the thin wire strands. These animals require an opening no larger than an inch, and the light gauge of the wire is no match for their sharp teeth. Even domestic dogs can tear through the material simply by leaning or charging against the mesh, separating the twisted strands.
Superior Alternatives for Secure Enclosures
For any enclosure that must reliably exclude determined predators, stronger materials are necessary. Hardware cloth is the most recommended alternative, featuring a much thicker wire gauge (often 19-gauge or lower) and a tighter, square mesh pattern, typically 1/2-inch or 1/4-inch openings. This material is usually galvanized after welding, which fuses the wire intersections for superior rigidity and resistance to chewing or tearing.
Welded wire mesh is another superior option, providing greater structural integrity and strength against brute force attacks. This mesh has thicker wire that is welded at every intersection point, making it extremely difficult for predators like dogs or coyotes to bend or tear. It is available in various gauges and mesh sizes, with 14-gauge or 16-gauge being common for perimeter fencing.
Effective installation is also dependent on these stronger materials, particularly for preventing digging. To stop animals like foxes and skunks, the barrier must include a wire apron extending both below ground and outward from the fence line. This apron, made from hardware cloth or welded wire, should be buried six to twelve inches deep and bent outward a foot, forcing a digging predator to encounter a solid barrier before reaching the enclosure’s interior.