The easiest way to keep chickens secure in their coop and protected against predators such as sneaky raccoons and foxes is with durable fencing.
Having raised chickens over the last 10 years, I know that not all types of fence materials are made equal with some offering more resilience, longevity, and protection against predators than others.
- Best value
- Easy to use
- Simple to install
- Sturdy
- Well-priced
- Quick installation
- Durable
- Rust resistant
- Simple to install
- Weatherproof
- Affordably priced
- Lightweight and flexible
- Good value
- Quick installation
- Keeps small predators out
- Easy to Assemble
- Good for enclosures
- Durable zinc coating
If you are searching for fencing to secure a coop, to contain chickens, or you want electric fences to deter predators, I’m here to help you choose the best poultry netting by exploring the top fencing products in this ultimate guide.
Let’s start by taking a look at the winning products in our featured categories…
The Best From The Reviews
Top Pick
Farmily Portable Electric Fence
The lightweight design of this electric poultry netting makes it easy to adjust and install as secure fencing to keep chickens safe.
Farmily Portable Electric Fence
As the best choice of portable fencing, the Family Portable Electric Fencing is easily installed as a temporary pasture fence or to reinforce a chicken run against predators.
Its stainless steel wire construction provides high conductivity.
Best on a Budget
MTB Galvanized Hardware Cloth
The high quality and sturdy construction of fencing will keep predators and unwanted animals out of the chicken coop.
MTB Galvanized Hardware Cloth
The durable chicken wire by MTB is a long-lasting stainless steel wire mesh that is well-priced. It is designed to erect chicken runs and fences and is strong enough to keep predators out.
The welded mesh provides heavy-duty construction used in many popular enclosure pens.
Editor’s Choice
Patriot Electric Fence
The energizer that comes with the fence will produce an electric current even when covered by tall grass and dense foliage to deter small animals including dogs.
Patriot Electric Fence
Rated as the best electric netting, Patriot Electric Fences come with a transmitter range of a quarter mile so you can easily extend the fence by connecting the horizontal wires to the ground It is easy to install and can be set up in less than an hour.
Best Value
YARDGARD 308418A Fence
The zinc-coated woven steel provides weather protection and durability for chicken fences. The chicken wire is flexible making it easy to maneuver and secure.
YARDGARD 308418A Fence
The economically priced YARDGARD 308418A Fence offers the best value for poultry netting because it is made from a strong 20 gauge galvanized steel which prevents rust while reinforcing all types of fences.
It can be used to confine chickens and rabbits and to protect plants or garden beds from deer and small animals.
Best Portable Fence
Premier PoultryNet Plus
The electrified mesh comes with preinstalled double spiked posts making it easier to secure into the ground. Multiple rolls can easily be added together to increase the length of the netting.
Most Durable
YARDGARD 308312B Fence
The 23 gauge steel and zinc coating make for durable and rust-resistant netting. It is ideal for securing a chicken coop and improving chicken safety.
YARDGARD 308312B Fence
The YARDGARD 308212B Fence is the most durable to keep your flock safe and will not tarnish or rust with exposure to the weather because of its protective zinc coating.
It is a suitable fencing option for animal control designed to prevent digging predators or stray dogs from reaching chickens.
On To The Reviews…
Top Pick
Farmily Portable Electric Fence
Highly conductive stainless steel wires are designed to keep chickens, livestock, and even guard dogs safely enclosed while keeping unwanted animals out.
Farmily Portable Electric Fence
The Farmily Electric Fence Polywire is a lightweight electrical conducting wire consisting of 6 stainless steel strands. It is lightweight and flexible making it easy to cut, repair, and rewind, and is ideal to contain family pets such as rabbits and chickens.
Inclusions
Farmily provides a portable netting that you can move around as needed or attach to permanent boundaries to make your own electric chicken fence. This makes it a great option as a run or rotational pasture enclosure.
Farmily Electric Polymer is not a complete electric fencing kit and does not include line posts, a rod, or ground wire. An energizer is not included; however, you can use a solar electric fence charger. You’ll have to run multiple strands between support posts to create electric fencing to enclose chickens and other animals such as goats and horses.
Installation
It is best to purchase non conductive support posts such as PVC posts to prevent the steel wire from transferring electricity to the posts and the ground. In moist soil, electricity can run from metal posts to surrounding plant matter and cause a fire hazard.
This product is easy to install and comes with an installation manual. It also consists of bright colors making it highly visible so you never accidentally walk into it and experience a nasty jolt!
Specs
- 1.2 lbs
- 656 ft of wire
- Stainless steel wire
Pros
- Highly durable
- UV stabilized webbing
- Lightweight and easy to use
Cons
- Won’t keep small animals out
- Is not a complete kit
- Cannot function under high tension
Best on a Budget
MTB Galvanized Hardware Cloth
The hardware cloth is easy to install and the ¼ inch gauge mesh openings will prevent most types of vermin from entering the chicken coop.
MTB Galvanized Hardware Cloth
The MTB steel mesh is an economical solution to enclosing coops and creating fully covered runs. It is not an electric chicken fence but standard poultry netting that consists of 23 gauge steel wire and is well-priced.
Usage
If you’re looking to prevent digging animals such as rodents from reaching the chickens, then this style of fencing is the ideal choice. It consists of a hot-dipped galvanized mesh preventing it from rusting with weather exposure or when installed in the ground.
The small mesh squares measure ¼ x ¼ inch and are small enough to prevent baby chicks from escaping their enclosure.
It is also suitable to secure garden beds and lawns from burrowing animals such as ground hogs. The steel hardware cloth can be dug 1 foot into the ground to prevent rats and larger animals from burrowing into the garden, coop, or foundations.
Installation
MTB’s Hardware Cloth is simple to unroll and secure using a basic cutting tool and pair of protective gloves to prevent the sharp edges from piercing your skin. You can secure the poultry netting to fence posts using cable ties staples.
Pros
- Durable
- Keeps rodents out
- Flexible and easy to bend
Cons
- Lightweight
- Sharp pointy ends
- Won’t protect against large predators
Editor’s Choice
Patriot Electric Fence
The easy to use fence energizer can be attached to fences such as a chain link fence to keep small and digging pests out.
Patriot Electric Fence
The Patriot Electric Fence Energizer comes with a spool of 17 gauge aluminum wire to keep pets enclosed and prevent small animals such as deer or rabbits out of vegetable patches or garden beds. It can be used as an electric fence to surround a chicken coop or run and prevent dogs, raccoons, and even foxes from reaching the flock.
The energizer and spool can be used to create an electric chicken fence. It does not include a ground rod or ground stake but this can be purchased separately online or at a local hardware store.
Power Supply
Patriot uses a low impedance energizer as the power source which provides a continuous supply of current to the end of the fence line even when running through dense foliage.
You can extend the length or circumference of the fence as the energizer’s transmitter covers a distance of around a quarter-mile. This ensures that power is transmitted through the entire electric poultry netting.
LED Indicator
What we like about the Patriot Electric Fence is that it comes with an LED indicator light that pulses when the energizer is on. The PE2 Fence Energizer offers a power output of up to 5kV and the weatherproof aluminum wire will not rust over time.
Specs
- 2.66 lbs
- 250 ft wire spool
- Aluminum wire with energizer
Pros
- LED indicator light
- Quick and easy install
- Energizes electric fences
Cons
- Not weatherproof
- Requires ground rods
- More effective in damp soil
Best Value
YARDGARD 308418A Fence
The lightweight steel mesh is perfect for enclosing the top of runs for chickens and other small animals such as rabbits against aerial predators.
YARDGARD 308418A Fence
The YARDGARD 308418A Poultry Netting is a standard mesh made from a 20 gauge zinc-coated steel for durability.
Usage
It can be used as a permanent or temporary fence to enclose small animals or prevent squirrels and rabbits from reaching garden beds; however, this type of fencing is not strong enough to safeguard chickens against large predators such as foxes or bears.
This poultry netting is lightweight making it simple to secure to posts or fences using staples or cable ties. It is not a heavy-duty wire and its flexibility prevents it from standing on its own. If it is used for an enclosure, it should be attached to a frame.
Features
The YARDGARD’s value lies in its affordability, longevity, and ease of use. The galvanized finish protects the fence against rust and deterioration which allows you to install the mesh underground to prevent digging animals from reaching the vegetable patch or chickens in their coop.
YARDGARD 308418A mesh is not electric poultry netting but rather a standard mesh that can be used for various garden projects and creating outdoor runs for poultry and small animals.
Specs
- 150 ft
- 11.48 lbs
- Galvanized steel wire
Pros
- Easy to use
- Rust resistant
- Cost effective
Cons
- Lightweight
- Requires frame to erect
- Cannot protect against large predators
Best Portable Fence
Premier PoultryNet Plus
The portable electric poultry netting is a complete fence with pre-installed posts making it quick and easy to install into the ground.
Premier PoultryNet Plus
Premier offers the best electric fence because it is portable and durable and it comes with double-spiked pre-installed posts making for quick and easy installation. The double spiked posts provide improved stability compared to single spiked posts.
Usage
The electric poultry netting posts are pre fastened and spaced every 6.8 ft. Along with plastic struts, it is designed to prevent sag between each stake. These reinforcements offer a sturdy fence, especially when coming up against predators such as coyotes, raccoons, foxes, bears, and stray dogs.
The portable poultry netting makes a good electric chicken fence as it is designed to keep animals such as goats, chickens, ducks, and turkeys inside. Premier recommends non-conductive fence corners as using steel posts will conduct electricity along the ground when the area is wet.
Maintenance
For Premier Electric fences to maintain their charge, the shrubs and grass growing around the fence should be kept short. With enough vegetation growing around the wires, it will reduce the charge of the fence.
Premier does not include an energizer but you can purchase a solar energizer solar as a reliable power source. This range of fences must be properly energized to work effectively.
Specs
- 23 lbs
- 48 inches x 100 ft
- Plastic and metal wire strings
Pros
- Sturdy
- Easy to assemble
- Includes repair kit
Cons
- Large mesh gaps
- Does not include energizer
- Loses charge in long grass
Most Durable
YARDGARD 308312B Fence
The double zinc coated and galvanized mesh protects the fence against the formation of rust making it a good choice to use outdoors to enclose fowl.
YARDGARD 308312B Fence
The YARDGARD 308312B Fence is hardware cloth made from durable galvanized steel. It is rust resistant owing to its double zinc coating making it perfect for outdoor applications. Come rain or shine, the wire mesh will maintain its finish and longevity!
Along with its durability, the lightweight construction makes it easy to bend into position whether you need to secure a chicken fence or to cover gutters to prevent leaf matter from falling in.
Usage
While YARDGARD is not an electric fence, it is ideal for enclosing garden beds or vegetable patches to prevent small creatures such as rabbits or squirrels from getting to your plants. The ¼ inch mesh gaps will prevent large snakes and rodents from reaching enclosed areas too.
The mesh consists of a soft and thin wire making it lightweight and easy to work with. It is also fairly priced and good for small projects around the garden. It is not suitable as a permanent chicken fence where predators such as raccoons and bears frequent. Predators can break through the fencing and reach your chickens.
You can use the durable mesh to install as a barrier under decks or foundations to prevent burrowing animals from getting inside. It is weatherproof and won’t degrade when secured in soil.
Specs
- 6.45 lbs
- Steel wire
- 24 inch x 25 ft
Pros
- Durable
- Affordable
- Rust resistant
Cons
- Thin wire
- Lightweight
- Not ideal against large predators
What is Poultry Netting?
Poultry netting consists of mesh or wire that is commonly used to enclose fowl such as chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys. It is made from galvanized steel or aluminum to protect it from weather damage when used outdoors.
There are different types of netting, each offering a unique set of features to suit your needs. Galvanized or zinc-coated steel mesh is a durable netting that is used to keep chickens in and other animals, such as cats, dogs, and raccoons out.
Gaps
Mesh fencing has gaps or openings of different shapes and sizes. You can get away with ½ inch mesh to contain fully grown chickens but ¼ inch gaps are better for chicks and young birds as it prevents them from squeezing through the gaps and escaping.
Netting is also available as an electric fence which is effective at securing chickens against predators. The best electric netting offers years of protection against foxes or raccoons when properly maintained.
Does Poultry Netting Work?
Poultry mesh works to enclose chickens whether as temporary or permanent fencing but it is not predator-proof.
To contain chickens, regular galvanized mesh products will work when secured to a frame or set of posts to prevent the fence from toppling over. You’ll need to staple the mesh to the posts or use tie down cords to add sturdiness and keep the netting in place.
Will Poultry Netting Keep Predators Out?
Poultry netting is meant to contain fowl but it is not always effective against predators. If you live in an area where you don’t have to be concerned about small predators then galvanized mesh will work well to enclose coops or create chicken runs.
NOTE
For strong predators such as foxes, raccoons, coyotes, and bears, electric chicken fences offer the highest level of protection.
You can install netting kit products or a starter kit in which the energizer or charger is bought separately. Solar panels can be used with compatible energizers to reduce reliance on the grid.
What You Need for Electric Fencing for Poultry
To electrify fences, you’ll need an electric fence charger or energizer and no part of the metal netting or mesh should touch the ground as it will conduct electricity in wet conditions.
Chargers
Avoid continuous current energizers to use with an electric chicken fence because it increases the risk of fire damage. For chicken netting, pulse energizers are recommended that are compatible with the brand of poultry mesh because it prevents the build-up of heat and combustion with surrounding organic matter.
TIP
If you extend the length of electric chicken fences, additional energizer power is needed to maintain the charge.
Crisp lines along fences ensure minimal weak points and chickens are constantly protected against predators.
Fence Testers
Along with the charger, a wireless fence tester or voltage meter can help you monitor the charge of the fence. The most common electric fence cons include voltage drops when vegetation becomes overgrown or when grounding issues affect the fence line.
Trimming grass will also prevent fence issues such as a drop in the charge that would allow predators into the enclosure or coop.
What Predators are a Threat to Chicken Coops?
Chicken coops are threatened by raccoons, weasels, foxes, opossums, coyotes, and owls.
NOTE
To keep these pests at bay, a heavy-duty galvanized 20-gauge mesh is necessary as they cannot break through the thick wire.
Because raccoons are so persistent and known to break into coops, it is a good idea to invest in an electric fence to keep them away.
Can Raccoons Bite Through Chicken Wire?
Yes, raccoons will tear through chicken wire. They are also known to open locks so be sure to invest in sturdy, raccoon proof locks on your coop doors.
What Poultry Netting is Best for Chickens?
The best type of netting or mesh fencing for chickens depends on the purpose it will serve. If you want to keep them contained and predators such as raccoons or coyotes are not a problem, then a lightweight mesh attached to posts is fine. But if you need something durable to secure the coop against outside threats then electric fences are better to keep the flock safe.
Let’s take a closer look at a few things you should consider when looking for the right netting and fencing for poultry.
Things to consider
Price
The best electric fence offers value, durability, and ease of installation at an affordable price. Remember that electric fences and energizers are more expensive than galvanized mesh.
Purpose
The purpose of netting is an important part of safely containing fowl. A soft and lightweight chicken wire is easily destroyed by raccoons and larger predators while heavy-duty galvanized steel that is properly secured is better at safeguarding chickens.
Where predators or local dogs are a problem in your area, investing in an electric chicken fence is best. As soon as the animal touches the fence, they receive a zap that is just enough to deter them from pursuing your birds.
Area Coverage
Area coverage is important, especially when purchasing electric fencing. When you add to the length of an electric fence, the current has to run further along the fence line which reduces the power output. You may need to purchase an extra energizer to keep the fence optimally electrified.
Material
For outdoor applications, galvanized or zinc-coated steel or aluminum won’t rust or degrade with exposure to the elements.
Type
For ease of installation consider the types of fences that are ready-made. A fence-making setup includes pre connected posts with a single or double spike that you can push into the soil without a mallet or hammer.
Electric fences are best at protecting fowl from sneaky raccoons, foxes, and dogs, or you can purchase a roll of wire mesh to create temporary enclosures.
Durability
A good durable fence should last many years. It should be constructed to withstand various weather conditions and environments. Look for zinc-coated, galvanized steel that provides rust resistance.
Height
Consider the height of the fence you want to purchase as flighty chickens such as Leghorns can easily make it over a 6-foot fence. For large chickens such as Orpingtons, you can use a 2 to 4 ft fence.
What is the Strongest Poultry Netting?
The strongest poultry netting is galvanized steel that is durable, rust-resistant, and weatherproof. Look for galvanized, heavy-duty, and double zinc coating when searching for the strongest netting for chickens.
Is Electric Poultry Netting Safe for Chickens?
It is safe for chickens because their dense feathers will protect them from the full jolt of the fence.
How Long Does Poultry Netting Last?
Regular poultry netting can last for 5 years but moisture and wet soil can lead to rust. Galvanized fencing has a 20-year lifespan as the zinc coating prevents weather damage such as rust.
Conclusion
Remember that galvanized steel wire is preferred for enclosures because it is sturdy, durable, and long-lasting. MTB Hardware Cloth is a great choice as it is zinc coated for heavy-duty applications.
Electric Fence
If you want to prevent predators such as raccoons, coyotes, or even bears from terrorizing your flock, then electric chicken fences are best.
As soon as an animal makes contact with the wire, they receive a jolt preventing them from pursuing fowl. Consider Farmily Portable Electric Fence that is easy to install and effective at protecting poultry from these predators.
A simple tip to prevent electric fences from dropping their charge and efficacy is to keep the surrounding grass and vegetation neatly trimmed as plant overgrowth can reduce the charge and render the fence useless!
What Poultry Netting To Use
To guarantee the safety of chickens, you need to use strong steel and galvanized material that provides reinforcement against predators. If you want to add a layer of security, we have an animal repellent article here.
We thoroughly hope that you’ve enjoyed our guide to the top picks for poultry netting and that you’re confident about purchasing the best type of fencing for your chickens. For fellow poultry enthusiasts, share this guide with them to help them save time in their search for the perfect chicken fence.
