Chicken wire

[Daipie]

Just a quick question. About to purchase chicken wire for the duck run we are making and was wondering about the sizes needed. It seems 50mm is the standard but that seems awfully big. I am assuming that's the size of the hole. If I am being thick please say. If that's right is 50mm adequate?

[Pescador]

Quite correct Daipie, 50mm is the size of the hole, and that should be fine for ducks.

[Daipie]

Thank you, it just seemed to me to be large enough for some of our smaller predators to get in through.

[Melbourne12]

It won't keep rats out, that's true.  But unless you're going to use weldmesh (expensive) and bury it deep enough to deter digging, and extend the wire to make a roof, you can't be certain of keeping anything out, including foxes.

[Daipie]

The mesh will be going over the top to make a roof. It is also surrounded by concrete so it would be very hard to be reached that way but I think I will even go below the ground to ensure nothing can get in there. We have cats which I would hope would deter any rats but I don't want the ducks in any danger at all so I want to take all precautions. If that means going for a smaller size mesh then I will do that. I would rather pay out now than lose ducks because I didn't spend the cash at the start.

[Robert_Brenchley]

My mother once found a truly massive rat with its head stuck in 50mm mesh, bashed to with a hammer, and called me to dispose of the remains. It'll keep chickens in perfectly adequately.

[green lily]

You can get half inch mesh because I've got it round my strawberry beds..
It costs more of course because more wire. If you want to keep vermin out of the feed etc I'd shell out for the smaller one. You can get it plastic covered and it really does last a lot longer- and looks nicer. I don't know how wide the smaller mesh comes mines about 2'6''I think without going out and looking at this time of night. Tomorrow I'll check if you like because I've an unopened roll in the shed.