2024 Chicken Coop Netting Guide: How to Choose the Right Fence and Avoid Pitfalls

Setting up a chicken run, protecting your vegetable garden, or fencing off an area for small animals... on paper, it sounds simple. In reality, choosing the wrong netting can quickly turn your project into a headache. A chicken coop net that tears in the first gust of wind, a wire mesh that rusts in a few months, or an installation that becomes a nightmare are all-too-common disappointments.

Our mission is to help you make a clear, informed choice. Forget the marketing jargon and unrealistic promises: we'll break down the pitfalls to avoid and the criteria that truly matter for selecting a net that fits your needs and is built to last.

The 2 Classic (and Costly) Mistakes When Buying Chicken Wire

Before diving into technical specifications, it's crucial to recognise the mistakes that prove expensive in the long run.

1. Underestimating the impact of weather: This is the entry-level trap. You think you're getting a bargain with a cheap plastic mesh, but it's a poor long-term calculation. The problem? Without proper UV-resistant treatment, the plastic becomes brittle from sun and frost exposure. An unstabilised net can lose up to 50% of its strength in a single season, forcing you to start all over again the following year.
2. Choosing metal for its rigidity while forgetting about installation: A metal fence seems reassuring. It's sturdy, certainly, but often heavy, difficult to transport, and nearly impossible to install alone. Even worse, budget models are rarely hot-dip galvanised. The result: rust appears within the first year, weakening the structure and potentially injuring your animals.

The 3 Key Points to Check Before Choosing Your Netting

To ensure the longevity and effectiveness of your installation, three parameters must be scrutinised.

1. The Material: Next-Generation Polypropylene or Traditional Metal?

This is the choice that dictates everything else.

• Metal mesh: It inspires confidence with its rigidity, but its weight and vulnerability to corrosion are significant drawbacks. Expect a more laborious installation that often requires specific tools.
• Polypropylene (PP) netting: This is the smart, modern alternative. Lightweight and flexible, it's much easier to install. The non-negotiable feature? The “UV-stabilised” label, your only guarantee of longevity against the elements. The best models, like those in the Tenax range, benefit from a molecular biorientation process. This treatment significantly strengthens their tensile and tear resistance, making them competitive with some metal meshes... but without the rust.

2. Height and Mesh Size

The dimensions of your animal fencing must perfectly match your project.

• For a chicken coop: A height of 1 m to 1.20 m is usually sufficient for standard chicken breeds, especially if the chicken run is covered on top. For more agile breeds or to create a true aviary net, aim for 2 m for complete peace of mind.
• To protect a vegetable garden: A low 1 m fence is often enough to deter rabbits and other small nibblers.
• As an anti-mole net: Here, the net is laid horizontally, a few centimetres under the lawn. The roll's height (1 m or 2 m) then becomes the width of the strip you can install.
• Mesh size: A square mesh of 15 to 20 mm is an excellent compromise. It's fine enough to contain chicks and block small predators, but large enough not to add unnecessary weight to the structure.

3. Versatility: One Purchase, Multiple Uses

A good net is a reusable net. A quality model can serve as chicken wire one year, a vegetable garden barrier the next, a cover for a pond to keep out dead leaves, or even as an anti-mole net when redoing a lawn. Thinking multi-purpose is how you maximise your investment.

Our Selection: Netting for Every Need

Rather than a generic product list, here are solutions that cater to specific user profiles, all while avoiding the pitfalls mentioned earlier.

IDEAL PROFILE: THE SMART & PREPARED GARDENER

Tenax Aviary Black 1x200m, Plastic Net for Coops/Anti-Mole/Fencing

Why this choice? It's the Swiss Army knife of netting. Perfect as an anti-mole barrier under a new lawn or as a low fence to protect a vegetable garden. Its 1 m width makes it very easy to handle for these uses.

How it avoids the pitfall

When buried, it will never rust, unlike classic metal mesh. Above ground, its UV treatment guarantees excellent durability.

Key Advantage

Lightweight and flexible: a real pleasure to transport, unroll, and cut to size to fit the contours of your land.

IDEAL PROFILE: THE HOBBY POULTRY KEEPER

Tenax Aviary Black 2x200m, Animal/Poultry Protection Net

Why this choice? At 2 metres high, it's the ideal solution for a high-security run or an aviary. No more chickens making a run for it or predators jumping over the fence.

How it avoids the pitfall

It provides the security height that 1 m nets don't, preventing both escapes and intrusions. Its treated plastic material withstands the seasons without degrading.

Key Advantage

Peace of mind: the 2 m height combined with a fine mesh (16x19 mm) creates a nearly impenetrable fortress for most poultry and their predators.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What height should I choose for a chicken net?

It all depends on your chickens! For calm laying breeds (like Rhode Island Reds, Marans), a height of 1.20 m to 1.50 m is sufficient, especially if the run is covered. For lighter, more agile breeds, or to build a true aviary, go straight for 2 m for maximum security.

How do I install a plastic chicken coop net?

It's much simpler than with metal mesh. Plan for posts (wood, metal, or plastic) every 2 to 3 metres. Then, unroll the net, pull it taut, and attach it to the posts with zip ties or wire. The anti-predator trick: bury the base of the net 15 to 20 cm deep to block digging animals.

Is plastic mesh strong enough against predators?

Yes, provided you choose a high-quality one. A plastic mesh made of bioriented, UV-treated polypropylene offers surprising tensile and tear strength, capable of deterring most opportunistic predators (cats, birds of prey). Against a determined predator like a fox, the netting is an excellent base, but it's advisable to reinforce the bottom of the enclosure by burying it or lining it with metal mesh at ground level.