Serious question, does chicken wire actually summon chickens?

I put up some chicken wire around my new veg patch to keep pests out. Now I have three neighbor's chickens treating it like their personal lounge. They've scratched up all my carrot tops and seem very pleased with themselves. I'm stuck with a backyard full of contented poultry. I guess my DIY project turned into a free range coop.

3 comments

3 Comments

laura_scott1mo ago

Yeah the "personal lounge" thing is too real. I had to swap my chicken wire for poultry netting with smaller holes, the kind meant for keeping birds in not out. Those little dinosaurs just walked right through the regular wire like it was a suggestion. The netting actually kept my neighbor's birds out last summer.

thomas2751mo ago

Hot take: Free chicken delivery. Longer response: Your "personal lounge" comment is spot on. Chickens see that wire and just think it's fancy fencing for their new spot. They're not really stopped by it at all, more like invited. You pretty much built them a playground. You might need to switch to that smaller netting stuff, the kind with tiny holes. It's the only thing that seems to work for keeping those determined birds out. Good luck, hope you get your garden back.

markhall25d ago

What's the smallest hole size that actually works? I tried some netting last year but they still got their heads through. Is it more about the material being stiff so it doesn't stretch? My current setup just bends out of shape when they push on it.