My coop went from predator-proof to a death trap in 2 months - here's what changed

I noticed my hens were getting jumpy back in September (they normally sleep like rocks). Checked the hardware cloth and found rust holes near the ground that weren't there in July. A raccoon had been digging under the skirt and chewing through a spot where the wire touched damp soil. I've since replaced all the ground-level mesh with welded wire and buried it 6 inches deep. Has anyone else had rust sneak up on them like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

noahs8210d agoTop Commenter

Is hardware cloth really that much weaker than welded wire in the long run? I get that rust can be a problem, but @matthew_owens9 has had his stuff in wet New England for four years with no issues, so it seems like most people don't run into this unless the ground is super acidic or something. Maybe you just got unlucky with that one bad spot where the wire touched damp dirt, but that could happen with any mesh if it stays wet long enough. I've had plain chicken wire rot out in a couple years, but hardware cloth usually lasts me at least 5-6 years before I see any holes. Seems like burying it deeper and adding a gravel base would stop most of that moisture problem anyway. Are you sure it wasn't the raccoon finding a weak spot from age or damage, not just rust eating it away that fast?

matthew_owens911d ago

I put hardware cloth in a wet New England run four years ago and haven't seen any rust yet. Maybe the gauge or coating makes a difference, or the soil moisture is way higher in your area.