Can Rats Fit Through Chicken Wire?

If you have chickens, you may wonder: Can rats fit through chicken wire? Rats are known for their ability to squeeze through small spaces and can jump fences. Although they may seem small, they have the ability to eat nearly anything. They can kill both grown chickens and baby chicks. Keeping a rat-proof chicken coop is essential to protect your flock.

One way to prevent rats from entering your chicken coop is to use hardware cloth. This will prevent them from slipping through small holes. Make sure that the hardware cloth covers all holes. Even a quarter-inch hole can be a big enough entryway for rats to squeeze through. Then, you need to make sure that the chicken coop door closes tightly at night to prevent rats from sneaking in.

While chicken wire is a great barrier to larger predators, smaller ones can chew through it. A copper mesh wire mesh is a good alternative. Copper mesh wire mesh doesn’t rust, and it fits into small gaps and crevices. Another option is PUR Black Gun Foam, which will help to exclude rodents from the coop.

Rats reproduce very quickly. A female rat can have up to 6 litters per year. Rats need plenty of food and a safe place to live. If they are provided with these, they can produce five to twelve babies within four or five weeks.