Our Blog - The Fence Post (80)

Enclosures for Rabbits and Chickens

April 1, 2011 | by Frank Langone

Keeping Small Animals Safe

Are there some new bunnies and chicks at your house? Will you be needing wire mesh? Time for a bit of preparation.

Will you have to make a cage or build an enclosure to contain your newly acquired animals?
Do you know what kind of wire mesh materials you will need? Here are some answers.

Rabbits: Creating Safe Enclosures

Baby Saver Unlike standard welded wire mesh which has a 1” x 2” mesh for the entire width, this wire mesh has a ½” x 1” mesh for the bottom 4” which prevents kits from falling or being pulled through the cage.

Rabbit cages are made with welded wire mesh - 14 gauge 1" x 2" mesh for the sides and 16 gauge ½" x 1" for the bottom.

Galvanized after weld (GAW) is recommended for the bottom. The extra-thick coating of zinc will stand up to the corrosive potential of urine and feces. GAW wire mesh will last longer.
Galvanized before weld (GBW) would not last very long if used on the bottom. It is more economical to use it for the sides and top of the cage, which get little if any exposure to corrosive substances.

Enclosures for Chickens

Once the chicks have outgrown the cardboard box in the house they are ready to be moved outside. What wire mesh will you use to make the pen? It's amazing how vulnerable these young ones are, even in suburban areas.

Black vinyl coated 1" hexagonal wire mesh, also known as chicken wire or poultry wire, is the perfect product to use for an enclosure.

The PVC coating gives the wire safe protection against rust and corrosion. This fencing material should last for years, saving the cost and inconvenience of replacement and repair.
The wire mesh is easy to handle and cut to shape. Staple the netting to wood posts using 14 gauge ¾" poultry staples.
Black vinyl-coated hexagonal mesh (or hex mesh) has an attractive appearance. The black color blends with the background becoming virtually invisible. You will be able to see the birds inside the pen.
And don't forget mesh or netting for the top of your run's enclosure. Climbing animals and birds of prey will be ready to pounce on your new recruits.

Do you have any ideas or suggestions for using wire mesh to build rabbit cages or chicken pens that would be helpful to others?

Topics: welded wire mesh, baby saver, galvanized after, black vinyl coated

5 Reasons To Buy Galvanized After Wire Mesh

March 17, 2011 | by Duncan Page

Galvanized After Wire Mesh: Welded or Woven

Wire mesh that has been galvanized after fabrication offers advantages that make it superior to mesh that has been galvanized before fabrication. The reason for this lies in the way it is manufactured. Galvanized after wire mesh can be either welded or woven. After the welding or weaving is completed, the mesh is dipped into a bath of molten zinc. The zinc bonds to the wire's surface, thoroughly sealing it and protecting it from rust and corrosion.

Considerations:

When galvanized before welded wire mesh is made, the zinc coating at the weld points is compromised. It can be burnt away, leaving the wire unprotected. And these intersecting areas tend to hold moisture longer than the single wire strands.
Woven meshes, especially in the light gauges like chicken wire hex netting, also have their weak points. The twisted areas of the mesh tend to hold moisture, causing them to rust out. Dipped in the zinc bath, these wire meshes will last for a long time, even in corrosive environments.

The Importance of Buying Galvanized After Wire (GAW) Mesh

GAW meshes:

Last longer
Stand up better to rough use
Have an extra thick coating of zinc
Have joints thoroughly protected from rust and corrosion
Are more useful in areas that will rot a wire mesh that is galvanized before

When you want to use galvanized wire mesh in a project, be sure to consider the advantages a GAW product offers. Think of the expense and labor involved in replacing a GBW mesh that rusts quickly. Invest in a quality product. Wouldn't you rather do it right the first time? Now take a look at the work of some premium fence installers with some very high standards:

Have you ever used a galvanized after wire mesh? Are you aware of the many alternative higher quality wire mesh options that are available, but not at your local big box stores? For a thorough discussion of the many varieties of fence products available, check out this blog.

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(GAW)

Topics: wire mesh, galvanized after, GAW

Finding the Right Fence Materials for Your Project

March 9, 2011 | by Duncan Page

Choices

With so many different types of fencing materials available, how do you know which one to choose? Are you overwhelmed when it comes time to make a decision? How do you know which one is the right choice?

Defining the Purpose of Your Fence

Most often, fences are used to either keep something in or keep something out of an area. But sometimes fences are used for decorative purposes or to define a boundary line or construction area. There are seasonal fences such as snow fences. And there are fences used to control drifting sand. The fencing materials you choose should be defined by the fence's purpose.

Fencing materials made from wire are the most common type available. The wire can be either woven or welded into a wide variety of mesh opening sizes.

Strong but Flexible--Woven Wire Mesh

There are woven meshes strong enough to contain livestock with different styles for specific types of animals. And there are deer and wildlife fences tall enough to keep out deer. Lighter gauge woven hex netting chicken wire meshes with black PVC coating can protect your poultry and fowl as well as your garden.

Welded Wire Meshes that Last

Use welded wire fencing materials to keep your pets and children in the yard. Vinyl-coated welded meshes make an attractive and long-lasting garden fence. There are many different wire gauges and mesh sizes from which to choose. Smaller meshes are ideal for animal cages and wildlife exclusion barriers.

Do you have any preference in fencing materials, woven or welded? Which type has worked best for you?

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Topics: fence, welded wire mesh, woven wire, galvanized after

Gophers & Gopher Wire

March 3, 2011 | by Duncan Page

Industrious, Hungry, and Not so Funny

They are the scourge of gardens, lawns, nurseries, athletic fields, orchards, golf courses, and other open public areas. Anyone who lives in an area infested with gophers knows the signs - the mounds of fresh soil dotting the ground's surface. One gopher can create several mounds in a day. Mounds can interfere with lawnmowers and severely impact the appearance of lawns. Conditions for digging are ideal in irrigated areas: flower beds, lawns, and gardens. Gophers love to eat:

vines
shrubs
trees
ornamental plants
vegetables

Drawing the Line

Perhaps the most effective way to combat the destructive and very costly impact of gophers is to bury wire mesh below the ground's surface. Though costly and labor-intensive, such a barrier will prevent gophers from burrowing to the surface.

Hardware Cloth: Protection that Endures

A good mesh to use as gopher wire is ½" x ½" welded wire. This is available in both 19 gauge, hardware cloth, and heavier 16 gauge wire. It comes in both a galvanized after weld and PVC vinyl coated finish. The galvanized finish protects the wire from rust and corrosion. The vinyl coating gives the mesh even longer protection. Widths up to 72" make it easier to cover large areas with fewer joints.

Hexagonal Netting

Hex netting also makes an excellent gopher wire barrier. Vinyl-coated 19 gauge, 3/4" and 20 gauge, 1" meshes are available. As with the welded wire, the PVC coating assures years of use. Lighter weight than the welded mesh products, the hex products are easier to work with. Rolls of 1" hex are available in widths up to 90".

Underground Chaos

Well, chaos for us; I'm sure that the gophers have matters well in hand. Their tunnels can cause soil erosion by diverting irrigation water. During a gopher's digging activity, lawn sprinkler systems and plastic water lines can be gnawed on and damaged.

A burrow system can cover an area of 200 to 2,000 square feet.
Food storage and nesting areas can be as deep as six feet.
Feeding burrows with a 3" diameter are most often 6" to 12" below ground.

Are gophers a problem for you? How have you tried to solve this?

In any case--after all this--let's take a break with this furry friend.

Do you have a solution that's different from using gopher wire you'd like to share?

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Information source: UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, University of California, Davis, CA 95616

Topics: hardware cloth, woven wire, welded wire, gopher fence

Fences, Welded or Woven?

February 28, 2011 | by Duncan Page

What are your goals for your fence?

Fences are available for every conceivable use and purpose. There are basically two types of manufactured wire fences: welded and woven. Read on for the benefits of these two very important types of wire...

Welded Wire Fence Characteristics

Welded wire products used as fences can be made in many different gauges - from heavy 4 gauge to lightweight 20 gauge. Lighter gauges and smaller meshes are available but are not recommended to be used as fencing by themselves
Mesh sizes can run from ½" to 6"
Most welded meshes made from steel are galvanized before weld (GBW), galvanized after weld (GAW), or vinyl coated (VC)
Fences are rigid and square
Mesh openings are uniform and consistent in shape and size throughout the roll or panel - ideal for cages
Welded products can be harder to install over uneven ground

Woven Wire Fence Characteristics

Woven wire products used as fences can vary between 9 gauge and 23 gauge
Mesh sizes can run from ½" to 8"
Wire finishes of woven meshes are similar to those that are welded: galvanized before weld (GBW), galvanized after weld (GAW), or vinyl coated (VC)
Fences that are woven are more flexible than welded products
Mesh openings are generally uniform and consistent in shape and size throughout the roll
Woven meshes are easier to install over uneven ground. They can be "racked" to conform to the ups and downs
Many of the fences used to enclose or exclude livestock are woven construction: deer, horses, poultry, and game birds

Which style of fence will work best in your next project? Feel free to give us a ring if you want to ask about particulars. Call us toll-free (866) 328-5018

What kind of experiences have you had with either or both types of fences?