[Badger]

Hi, we are going to build a permanent compound around our coop, and was looking for your thoughts on an adequate wire to use. I was thinking 48" high weld mesh ?. Or is chicken wire sufficient. What distance apart should the posts be. If we do use weld mesh, what gauge of wire should we use, and who is the cheapest supplier.

Badger

[princesspiggy]

it would depend on what u cud afford, welded mesh is a lot more expensive than chicken wire, but much better at holding its shape. ask at a farm services shop, much cheaper than a hardware store.
our farm shop has 50 m rolls of chicken wire out back but u have to ask, whereas the small rolls are on display and are far more expensive per metre. price also depends on thickness of wire.
i had an injured quail that ripped her neck by putting her head through chicken wire. just a thought 

[daddymatty82]

can you get hold of heras fencing? thats the best to make a pen. also how deep you digging down? my pen is now 6ft high and has pea netting over top do you have foxes in area?

[supplies for smallholders]

Hi,

If it is going to be a permanent pen why not consider using electrified high tensile wire fastened at the corners to insulators in corner posts and supported down its sides with plastic poles.

Would probably work out cheaper than weld mesh and would look less like fort knox as well.

Just a suggestion

[Badger]

Hi,

If it is going to be a permanent pen why not consider using electrified high tensile wire fastened at the corners to insulators in corner posts and supported down its sides with plastic poles.

Would probably work out cheaper than weld mesh and would look less like fort knox as well.

Just a suggestion

What do you mean by high tensile steel wire exactly, the new compound is probably going to be around and through a bush and tree'd area. Keeping branches from grounding a current could be a problem.

Badger

[supplies for smallholders]

Hi,

High Tensile wire is simply a strand of steel or in some cases aluminium wire stretched very tight between posts - there is very little sag - but not so good for round pens, more suited to straight runs. Several runs are needed at various heights, but once its up it needs very little looking after - apart from trimming back vegitation to prevent any bad shorts.

It is what the large free range units use to contain the birds to an area and to keep foxes out.

Thanks

[Badger]

Hi,

High Tensile wire is simply a strand of steel or in some cases aluminium wire stretched very tight between posts - there is very little sag - but not so good for round pens, more suited to straight runs. Several runs are needed at various heights, but once its up it needs very little looking after - apart from trimming back vegitation to prevent any bad shorts.

It is what the large free range units use to contain the birds to an area and to keep foxes out.

Thanks

OK thanks, so all you have is this wire, there is no other form of screen under it. How far apart would the bands of wire be. Could I then connect that to my 12v energizer ?. If so how would I connect it ? Just a clip over the wire as usual  ?.

Badger

[princesspiggy]

ud have to have good corner posts with high tensile tho or the tension will pull them out the ground.

[supplies for smallholders]

Hi,

It's Recommended to have 9 strands of wire at the following heights above the ground: 5, 13, 20, 28, 38, 50, 66, 84 & 105 cm.

Corner posts of well driven-in timber with intermediate posts (to support) every 6m.

Your energiser would just clip to it.

Thanks

[robert waddell]

don't want to be picky     but with 9 wires i remember somewhere seeing a layout for this type of fence with the wires alternating betwean positive and negative             to give a bigger kick to predators

[CameronS]

We use 8 foot hight builders pannels dug 1/2 feet into the ground to keep our birds in. the trees over head act as a roof detering flying predators.