Chicken wire, also known as poultry netting, is a common, inexpensive fencing material traditionally used to confine chickens or create temporary boundaries. This thin, flexible mesh features a characteristic hexagonal weave and is often considered by homeowners seeking a quick, accessible solution to deterring pests like squirrels. However, this material is generally unreliable and ineffective for long-term exclusion.
The Effectiveness of Chicken Wire Against Squirrels
Chicken wire is typically ineffective for squirrel exclusion due to the material’s physical properties and the squirrel’s anatomy. Standard chicken wire features a mesh size that is commonly 1-inch or 2-inch, which is far too large to deter a determined rodent. A squirrel is flexible and can squeeze its body through openings scarcely larger than its head.
The wire itself is usually a thin gauge, often between 19 and 22 gauge, making it highly flexible and easy to manipulate. Squirrels, like all rodents, possess incisor teeth that grow continuously, requiring them to gnaw on materials. The thin wire offers little resistance and can be easily chewed through or bent out of shape where the strands twist together.
Essential Differences: Chicken Wire vs. Hardware Cloth
The superior alternative for effective pest exclusion is hardware cloth, which differs significantly from poultry netting in construction and durability. Hardware cloth is a welded wire mesh, meaning the wires are welded at each intersection, creating a rigid and uniform square pattern. This structure prevents the mesh from being easily bent or collapsed, even under pressure.
The ideal mesh size for squirrel exclusion is 1/2 inch or 1/4 inch, which is much smaller than the typical 1-inch or 2-inch hexagonal weave of chicken wire. This tight spacing prevents even juvenile squirrels from squeezing through the openings. Hardware cloth uses a much thicker wire gauge, often 16 or 19 gauge, making the material significantly stronger and more resistant to chewing.
The small mesh size prevents chewing damage. Squirrels require a large enough gap to gain leverage with their teeth to begin gnawing through a wire. The tight squares of 1/2 inch or 1/4 inch hardware cloth do not allow the squirrel to get a purchase, preventing them from successfully chewing through the material.
Strategic Application for Squirrel Exclusion
Once hardware cloth is selected, the success of squirrel exclusion depends on the methodology of installation. The primary goal is to seal all potential entry points, including those below ground and where the mesh meets a structure. To prevent squirrels from digging underneath a fence or structure, the mesh must be installed as an L-shaped barrier, often called a wire skirt.
This skirt should extend at least 6 to 12 inches below the ground and then bend outwards for another 6 to 12 inches, pointing away from the protected area. When a squirrel attempts to dig near the barrier, it quickly encounters the outward-facing horizontal section of the mesh, which discourages further digging. The mesh must also be secured firmly to the structure, ensuring a tight seal at the top and corners.
All gaps between the hardware cloth and the structure must be sealed tightly to eliminate any opening larger than 1/2 inch. Using heavy-duty fasteners, such as galvanized screws and washers, is necessary to prevent squirrels from prying the rigid mesh open or climbing between the barrier and the surface. Proper installation requires meticulous attention to detail to ensure the exclusion is comprehensive and durable against persistent rodent activity.