7 best wire nettings for farms to Keep Predators Out

There’s nothing quite like the sinking feeling of a morning walk to the coop to find a scene of devastation. A single determined predator can undo months of hard work and care in just a few hours. The right fence isn’t just a barrier; it’s your first and best line of defense, an investment that pays you back with peace of mind and the safety of your livestock.

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Choosing the Right Mesh Size for Predators

The single most common fencing mistake is choosing a mesh size based on the animal you want to keep in, not the one you need to keep out. A fence that holds a chicken is little more than a minor inconvenience for a raccoon. Your predator dictates your fence design, and the mesh opening is the most critical detail.

For small, dexterous predators like weasels, mink, and raccoons, you need a very small mesh. A 1/2-inch or 1/4-inch hardware cloth is non-negotiable for the lower portion of any high-security enclosure like a chicken coop. Raccoons can reach through larger openings, injuring or even pulling apart smaller animals. Anything larger than 1-inch mesh is an open invitation for these clever hunters.

For larger predators like foxes, coyotes, and stray dogs, the concern shifts from reaching through to pushing, climbing, or digging. Here, a 2×4-inch welded wire or a graduated woven wire fence is more appropriate. The strength of the wire and the security of the connections become more important than the mesh size itself, as long as it’s small enough that they can’t easily push their head through. Always match the mesh to your most persistent and smallest local threat.

Yardgard Hardware Cloth: Top Raccoon Defense

When you need to turn a coop or run into a fortress, Yardgard Hardware Cloth is the tool for the job. This isn’t your perimeter fence; this is your high-security material for the most vulnerable areas. Made from heavy-gauge steel wire that is welded at each intersection and then galvanized, it creates an incredibly rigid and rust-resistant panel that is nearly impossible for small predators to break or tear.

The key feature is its tiny 1/2-inch or 1/4-inch mesh. This small opening is what makes it so effective. A raccoon cannot get its paws through, a weasel cannot slip its body through, and a snake will have a hard time finding a way in. Use it to cover all windows, vents, and any potential gaps in your coop. It is also the absolute best material for creating an anti-digging L-footer apron around the base of your run.

Don’t even think about using this for a multi-acre pasture—the cost would be astronomical. Yardgard Hardware Cloth is your specialized, close-quarters solution for making your henhouse, rabbit hutch, or brooder absolutely impenetrable to small, clever predators. If you have raccoons in your area, consider this product essential, not optional.

Red Brand Woven Wire for Large Perimeters

Garvee Cattle Farm Fence 4x164 ft, Thickened 12 Gauge Galvanized Wire Fencing, Durable Woven Wire Fencing with Hinge Knot for Cattle, Goats & Sheep, Hog, Livestock Fence, Farm & Field Use

For fencing in pastures, large gardens, or the entire perimeter of your property, Red Brand Woven Wire is the agricultural standard for a reason. Often called "field fence," its design is brilliantly simple and effective. The horizontal wires are held together by vertical "stay" wires that are woven or knotted on, creating a flexible yet incredibly strong barrier that can withstand pressure from livestock and predators alike.

The defining feature of most Red Brand field fencing is its graduated mesh. The openings are smaller at the bottom—perfect for stopping smaller animals like coyotes or stray dogs—and get progressively larger towards the top. This saves on material and cost without compromising security where it matters most. Combined with sturdy T-posts or wood posts, it creates a formidable and long-lasting physical barrier.

This is not a quick or portable solution; installing woven wire is a serious project that requires stretching tools and properly set corner posts. However, once it’s in, it’s a permanent fixture you can rely on for decades. If you need to secure a large area against predators like coyotes, dogs, or even deer (with the taller options), Red Brand is the most durable and cost-effective investment you can make.

Premier 1 Electric Netting for Poultry Safety

For farmers practicing rotational grazing with their poultry, Premier 1 Electric Netting is a game-changer. This isn’t just a physical barrier; it’s a powerful psychological one. The interwoven plastic and metal strands deliver a memorable shock that teaches predators like foxes, raccoons, and coyotes to keep their distance, often after just one encounter.

The beauty of this system is its portability. The netting comes with lightweight step-in posts already integrated, allowing you to set up, take down, and move a 100-foot enclosure in about 15 minutes. This enables you to move your flock to fresh pasture regularly, improving soil health and the well-being of your birds. It’s crucial to pair it with a properly sized, low-impedance fence energizer and to keep the bottom line clear of tall grass to prevent it from grounding out.

This system requires active management. You have to check the voltage and keep the fence line clear, so it’s not a "set it and forget it" solution. However, for hobby farmers who want to give their poultry access to pasture while providing top-tier protection from a wide range of predators, Premier 1 Electric Netting is the undisputed champion of portable fencing.

Tenax Welded Wire: A Versatile Fencing Choice

Think of Tenax Welded Wire as the reliable middle ground between flimsy poultry netting and heavy-duty woven wire. It’s a fantastic all-purpose fencing material for a huge range of farm applications. The wires are welded at every joint, creating a rigid and stable fence that won’t sag or stretch as easily as twisted-wire alternatives. It typically comes in a 2×4-inch or 1×2-inch mesh, which is a good deterrent for medium-sized animals.

This versatility is its greatest strength. It’s strong enough for a permanent chicken run, effective as a garden fence to keep out rabbits and woodchucks, and can be used to build secure enclosures for quail or other small animals. While it won’t stop a truly determined coyote on its own, its rigidity makes it much harder to breach than standard chicken wire. It’s also relatively easy to work with, cutting cleanly with wire snips and attaching securely to posts with staples.

Tenax offers a great balance of strength, visibility, and cost. It’s a significant upgrade in security from hexagonal poultry wire without the expense and installation difficulty of heavy woven wire. If you need a dependable, multi-purpose fence for semi-permanent runs and gardens, Tenax Welded Wire is a smart, practical choice that gets the job done without over-complicating things.

Gallagher Electric Netting for Portability

In the world of electric fencing, Gallagher is a name synonymous with quality and reliability, and their electric netting is no exception. Much like other netting products, it combines a physical barrier with a potent electric shock, making it an excellent choice for rotational grazing systems for sheep, goats, or poultry. It provides a highly effective solution for managing livestock and protecting them from predators in a portable package.

Gallagher often distinguishes itself with the quality of its components, such as multi-wire conductors for better energy transfer and well-designed, rigid step-in posts that reduce sag. For farmers who may already be using other Gallagher products, like their excellent energizers or insulators, sticking with the same brand can ensure seamless system compatibility. The core function remains the same: a portable, psychological barrier that trains predators to stay away.

Choosing between Gallagher and another top brand like Premier 1 often comes down to specific features, availability, or existing brand loyalty. Both offer superb protection for pastured animals. Gallagher Electric Netting is a top-tier option for anyone serious about rotational grazing, offering the robust performance and trusted engineering the brand is known for.

Gilbert & Bennett Poultry Wire for Overhead Runs

It’s critical to understand what Gilbert & Bennett Poultry Wire—commonly known as "chicken wire"—is for, and what it is not for. Its hexagonal, twisted-wire construction is lightweight and inexpensive, which makes it excellent for certain jobs. Its primary, and perhaps only, security application is for creating a top cover for a run to protect your flock from aerial predators like hawks and owls.

Do not make the mistake of using this as your main fence. A raccoon can tear through standard chicken wire with minimal effort. The thin-gauge wire and twisted connections simply don’t have the strength to stand up to a determined ground predator. It is purely a containment tool for keeping chickens in, not for keeping predators out.

Use this product for what it excels at: overhead protection, creating temporary internal divisions within a secure run, or for light-duty garden use like building trellises. It’s a useful material to have on the farm, but relying on it for predator defense is one of the most common and costly mistakes a new farmer can make. For overhead safety from birds of prey, it’s a perfect, cost-effective solution; for ground-level security, look elsewhere.

Everbilt Welded Wire for General Purpose Use

Found in most big-box hardware stores, Everbilt Welded Wire is the accessible and often budget-friendly choice for a wide array of farm and garden projects. Like other welded wire products, it offers good rigidity and is a significant step up in strength from hexagonal chicken wire. It’s a solid workhorse for building compost bins, protecting garden beds from rabbits, or reinforcing the lower section of an existing fence.

The key with a general-purpose brand like Everbilt is to pay close attention to the specifications, particularly the wire gauge. A lower gauge number means a thicker, stronger wire. A 14-gauge welded wire fence is substantially more durable than a 16-gauge or 20-gauge version. For predator protection, always opt for the thickest gauge available.

This product is perfect for the hobby farmer who needs a reliable fence for a weekend project without having to place a special order from a farm supply company. It provides a good balance of cost, convenience, and security for many common applications. Everbilt is your go-to for accessible, general-duty fencing, but be sure to choose a heavy gauge if predator exclusion is your primary goal.

Securing Your Fence with an L-Footer Apron

A determined predator’s first instinct is often to dig. Coyotes, foxes, and even raccoons will test the base of your fence relentlessly, and a simple vertical fence line is an easy challenge for them to overcome. This is where the L-footer apron becomes one of your most powerful tools, turning a good fence into a great one.

The technique involves taking an extra 12 to 24 inches of your fencing material—preferably a sturdy hardware cloth or welded wire—and laying it flat on the ground, extending outward from the base of your fence. This creates an "L" shape. You can secure the apron to the ground with landscape staples and then cover it with dirt, mulch, or rocks.

When a predator tries to dig at the fence line, it quickly hits this buried wire mesh. Its instinct is to dig right at the base, and it won’t think to back up a foot or two to start its tunnel. This simple, low-cost addition effectively neutralizes the threat of digging and is an essential security measure for any high-value enclosure like a chicken run.

Layering Fences for Maximum Protection

For ultimate security, especially for high-value or highly vulnerable animals like poultry, think in layers. A single fence line provides a single point of failure. A layered or "defense-in-depth" strategy creates multiple obstacles that work together to deter and stop even the most persistent predators.

A classic example is combining an electric fence with a physical one. An outer perimeter of electric netting can patrol a pasture area, delivering a corrective shock that serves as the first line of defense. This keeps most predators from ever even getting close to your main enclosure. The coop and its attached run then serve as the second layer, fortified with tough woven wire or hardware cloth and a digging apron.

This layered approach gives you redundancy. If a predator is bold enough to brave the electric fence (or if the power fails), it is met with a formidable physical barrier. This strategy allows you to use different fence types for what they do best—the psychological deterrent of electric fencing and the brute strength of a physical barrier—to create a system that is far more secure than either one would be on its own.

Choosing the right fencing is an active process of understanding your land, your animals, and your local predators. By matching the right material and technique to the specific threat, you move from a defensive position to one of control. A secure fence is more than just wire and posts; it’s the foundation of a safe and productive farm.