What Size Chicken Wire to Keep Rats Out?
WouterWhen installing a fence, the size of the wire mesh should be appropriate for the species of rodents and birds that you’d like to keep out. If you want to keep raccoons, woodchucks, or smaller rodents out of your yard, a two-by-three-inch wire mesh is ideal. Smaller rodents can squeeze through the gaps in a one-by-one-inch galvanized mesh barrier.
The diameter of the wire is known as the wire gauge. The lower the wire gauge number, the thicker the wire. The wire is available in a variety of mesh sizes. A wire with a lower gauge number will be easier to handle, while a higher number will be more resistant to gnawing.
Rats and mice are omnivorous. They will feed on just about anything, including your chickens’ eggs. Rats and mice will not attack adult chickens, but they will attack baby chicks and kill them if they find them. They are also a significant health risk as they can carry many diseases. A rat can dig several feet deep and jump up to eight feet high, which makes them a particularly difficult predator. Fortunately, there are ways to keep rats out of your chicken coop.
One of the best ways to prevent rats from entering your chicken coop is to place a mesh or wire around the coop. Rats are attracted to water, so removing any water from your chicken coop at night is a good idea. You can also use glue traps to trap rats, although they are the least humane option.
