Choosing the right chicken wire for your project is not just a matter of picking the first option you come across. Whether you’re planning to erect agricultural fencing, protect a garden, or undertake any DIY project, the strength, material, and mesh size of your chicken wire can significantly impact its effectiveness and durability.
The correct chicken wire ensures safety against predators, longevity against the elements, and suitability for specific tasks, from enclosing poultry to safeguarding vegetable patches. This guide will navigate the nuances of selecting the strongest chicken wire, balancing practical requirements with material strengths to secure your projects against common challenges.
Let’s get into it…
Understanding Chicken Wire
Essentially, chicken wire is a woven wire mesh used to contain and protect. In addition to its use in chicken coops to keep poultry in and predators out, its applications have expanded into garden fencing, small animal enclosures, and even craft projects. In chicken wire manufacturing, galvanised steel and PVC-coated steel are the most common materials.
Its durability and strength make galvanised steel ideal for outdoor use, as it is treated to resist rust and corrosion.
Steel coated with PVC offers an extra layer of protection against the elements and abrasion, extending the wire’s lifespan and providing a decorative touch. Selecting the right chicken wire depends on the mesh size and gauge – the thickness of the wire – as well as its strength and suitability for different applications.
The Strength of Galvanised Steel Chicken Wire
13mm Galvanised Steel
This mesh’s tighter weave offers enhanced security, which is ideal for securing smaller poultry or to protect delicate garden areas. In addition to protecting vulnerable occupants and plants, the 13mm openings prevent the entry of smaller predators and pests.
Used In:
- Rodent control barriers
- Protective garden cloches

19mm Galvanised Steel
Designed to prevent bird damage to thatched roofs, this mesh combines fine apertures with high strength. In addition to protecting the aesthetics and structural integrity of thatched materials, the 19mm openings prevent birds from nesting or pecking.
Used In:
- Thatched roof protection
- Bird deterrent for buildings

25mm Galvanised Steel
With its durable construction, this mesh offers robust protection against predators. A 25mm aperture prevents foxes and larger predators from penetrating the barrier, ensuring the safety of poultry.
Used In:
- Poultry enclosures
- Small animal pens

31mm Galvanised Steel
This variant is designed to keep rabbits out of gardens and landscapes. By balancing visibility and air circulation with resistance to gnawing and burrowing, the 31mm mesh size effectively keeps rabbits at bay while promoting plant growth.
Used In:
- Rabbit barriers for gardens
- Tree and shrub protection

50mm Galvanised Steel
A mesh size of 50mm offers a versatile solution for a wide range of applications. Despite its larger openings, it provides ample visibility and airflow, and the galvanised steel construction ensures that the product will last for a long time.
Used In:
- General garden fencing
- Large animal enclosures

Different types of galvanised steel chicken wire serve different purposes and meet different challenges. Understanding the strengths and applications of each type of chicken wire is key to selecting the strongest, most suitable wire for your project, whether it is 13mm mesh or 50mm fencing.
The Durability of PVC-Coated Chicken Wire
13mm Green PVC
The 13mm Green PVC Chicken Mesh Wire provides a fine barrier without compromising on aesthetics for more delicate applications where smaller pests are a concern. A smaller mesh size is ideal for protecting seedlings or decorative garden features, and the green PVC coating ensures the mesh remains discreet. For detailed garden protection, this mesh combines durability with subtlety.
Used In:
- Fine garden screening
- Seedling protection

25mm Green PVC
The 25mm Green PVC Chicken Mesh Wire is a unique blend of functional strength and aesthetic integration into garden settings. It offers an appealing appearance that harmonises with outdoor environments as well as protecting the wire from weathering and rust. This mesh wire serves as a deterrent against small animals while maintaining the visual appeal of garden enclosures.
Used In:
- Decorative garden fencing
- Pet enclosure accents

50mm Green PVC
50mm Green PVC Coated Chicken Wire Mesh offers an effective solution for broader applications requiring less restrictive barriers. The larger mesh size is suitable for fencing off areas within a garden or property without blocking views or airflow. Green PVC coating not only enhances the mesh’s resistance to environmental factors, but also makes it blend seamlessly with outdoor landscapes, providing a secure yet unobtrusive boundary.
Used In:
- Ornamental garden fencing
- Large pet enclosures

PVC-coated chicken wire is available in different mesh sizes and thicknesses to meet the needs of different customers, ranging from tight security against small pests to wider applications such as fencing. As a result of the green PVC coating throughout all sizes, these options add a level of durability and aesthetic appeal that makes them versatile choices for a variety of outdoor projects. PVC-coated chicken wire meshes are the ideal choice for securing gardens, creating pet enclosures, or adding a decorative touch to outdoor spaces, since they are both functional and visually appealing at the same time.
Choosing the Strongest Chicken Wire for Your Needs
Choosing the right chicken wire for a project goes beyond choosing the thickest or most robust material. The project’s specific requirements must be considered, including the animals to be deterred or contained, the environmental conditions, and the wire’s desired lifespan. When it comes to agricultural applications, galvanised steel is preferred because of its strength and rust resistance. For example, PVC-coated wires offer added durability and are aesthetically pleasing. Taking these factors into account will ensure that the chicken wire selected meets both the functional and aesthetic requirements of the project.
- Identify the Purpose: Determine if the wire is for animal containment, garden protection, or decorative use.
- Assess Predator Threats: Consider the size and type of predators in your area (e.g., foxes, rabbits).
- Consider the Animals Being Protected: Size and strength needs for chickens, rabbits, or larger animals.
- Evaluate Environmental Conditions: Exposure to moisture, potential for rust, and climatic conditions.
- Decide on Longevity and Maintenance: How often you are willing to replace or maintain the fencing.
- Choose Between Galvanized Steel and PVC-Coated: Weigh durability against aesthetic preferences.
- Select Mesh Size: Based on the type of animals to keep in or out.
- Consider Wire Gauge: Thicker wire for higher strength and durability.
- Think About Installation: Ease of handling and flexibility versus rigidity needed for your project.
- Budget Constraints: Higher quality materials may cost more initially but offer savings in durability and longevity.
Practical Applications and Case Studies
There are many sectors in which the type of chicken wire used can make a significant difference to the success of a project. One community garden used 25mm Green PVC Chicken Mesh Wire to create a visually appealing boundary that kept small rodents out without overshadowing its beauty. In contrast, an agricultural farm used 31mm Galvanised Steel Rabbit Netting to protect their crops from rabbits, relying on its strength and durability to withstand rural environmental challenges.
A large animal sanctuary also used 50mm Galvanised Steel Chicken Wire Fencing Mesh to maximise visibility and ensure the well-being of the animals, demonstrating the mesh’s versatility on different scales and applications.
For optimal results, chicken wire strength, functionality, and suitability must be aligned with the project’s specific demands, as shown in these examples.
You should carefully consider the options available when selecting chicken wire, from galvanised steel to PVC-coated meshes for their durability and aesthetic appeal. It is designed to meet specific security or containment needs and to withstand varying environmental conditions. Wire’s functionality and longevity depend on the materials, mesh sizes, and coatings chosen. By assessing your project’s requirements, including level of protection, exposure to elements, and aesthetic preferences, you can select chicken wire that exceeds your expectations for strength, durability, and suitability.
Explore our wide range of high-quality chicken wire solutions for a variety of applications to find the right one for you. As a result of this guide, you will be able to make an informed decision tailored to the needs of your particular project.
As always, thank you for checking out our blog. We hope that this helps you with your project. We try to launch a couple of new guides every week. Eventually we will have covered everything there is to cover about mesh.
You may be interested in our blog that explores how to build a chicken coop.
Our goal for our blogs and help guides is to answer as many questions as possible to help to explain the possibilities of mesh to our customers.