Chicken Wire (19 items found)

The Benefits of Chicken Wire Mesh 

Although chicken wire gets its name from the original use of protecting poultry, it's a versatile fencing material you can use in many situations.

As well as keeping chickens safely in their run and blocking predators out, a chicken wire fence can also protect your vegetable or flower garden from hungry pests. Use poultry netting to give your yard general protection from raccoons, skunks, foxes and other critters that love to make a mess. You can even use the wire mesh to provide a barrier around dangerous machinery in a garage or workshop to keep younger family members safe.

Chicken Netting Features

Classic chicken mesh is made from steel wire woven into hexagons. The silver-colored galvanized metal protects against rust, while wire coated in plastic can help to further reduce corrosion. The coated mesh netting, available in colors like green and black, also provides a softer feel for increased safety. Despite its strength, chicken wire is highly flexible and easy to install as a fence in a DIY project. 

Weave Size 

The smaller the holes in the mesh, the more protection the fencing provides by keeping smaller animals out. However, smaller holes make the mesh heavier and more expensive. Typical chicken wire has a weave size of between a quarter-inch and two inches.

Wire Gauge 

Thicker chicken wire is stronger, but again it's heavier and a little more expensive. The thickest type of poultry netting is usually 19-gauge, or around 0.036 inches, while the thinnest is 22-gauge or approximately 0.025 inches.

Length and Height 

At Ace, we stock chicken wire in rolls of 25 feet up to 150 feet in length, with roll heights ranging from 12 to 72 inches. It's easy to use several smaller rolls fixed above each other to get the exact height you need for your fence project.

Tips for Installing Chicken Netting 

Chicken wire mesh is a tough material that gives excellent protection, but following a few simple installation tips will make your fence as secure as possible:

• For poultry coops, make your fence around six feet high to keep chickens in and foxes out.
• Space your fence posts at most around eight feet apart to keep tension and strength in the fence.
• At the base of your fence, bury the chicken wire at least a foot deep to foil burrowing predators like dogs and foxes.
• Use thick metal staples to securely fix the mesh to the fence posts. 

Chicken Netting Tools

Installing your chicken wire is straightforward when you have the right tools. Wire cutters and industrial staplers are essential for fitting and maintenance, helping to keep your fencingin great shape for longer protection. 

Poultry Netting from Trusted Brands

High-quality chicken netting can last for years and with trusted brands including Garden Zone, Tenax and Origin Point, you know you're in good hands when you shop at Ace Hardware.

If you need advice on any aspect installing a chicken wire fence, call or visit your local Ace store and our expert staff will be happy to help.