Chicken wire is commonly used to make chicken runs. Usually, chicken fences are at least 4 feet high. Installing a chicken fence is easy, but choosing the right type of fence, wire thickness, hole diameter & height is necessary. Also, decide the required height of T-posts according to the fence height.
In this, we’ll discuss from the start to end how to build/install chicken wire to T-posts
How to build a chicken fence with T-posts?
Here’s a quick guide:
- At regular intervals of 8-10 feet, drive 1/3 of the T-posts with their studs facing inward.
- To install a gate between the fence, measure the length of the gate & install gate posts accordingly.
- Temporarily hang the fence after unrolling it. Start from the first/corner post, and align the fence vertically & horizontally straight & keep it touching the ground.
- Wrap chicken wire around the corner T-post & secure it using zip ties or metal wire. Keep the fence stretched & straight by maintaining the same pattern from top to bottom.
- Similarly, attach the wire fence to all T-posts using zip ties or metal wires. To avoid the chicken fence from sagging, install metal wire between the corner posts at the top & bottom of the fence & tie it to the chicken fence.
- To keep animals from digging under the fence, dig a trench (6-12 inches) before connecting the fence to T-posts. Adjust the fence in the trench, tie it to T-posts & fill it again.
- Or simply attach a wire fence horizontally to the bottom of the chicken fence. Finally, inspect any loose fence part & reinforce it.
Step 1: Decide the area/perimeter to be covered:
Start by measuring the area for the chicken fence & decide on its layout. This will help you determine the number of T-posts, and length of the chicken fence, & other materials needed.
It’s easy to decide the area to be fenced by considering the type of animals to be kept & their number.
For example, For chicken, 2-3 square feet per bird should be allocated depending on the breed’s size.
Similarly, ducks need 4 to 5 sq. ft per bird.
Similarly, decide the layout/shape of the fence(rectangle or square). Also, decide the height of the fence.
It’ll help you choose the right length of posts. The chicken fence should be at least 4-8 feet in height.
Step 2: Choosing the right chicken wire:
If your only purpose is to keep the chickens or small animals inside the fence without the worries of predators, regular chicken wire can be helpful & it’s cost-effective too.
Chicken wire is available in ½, 1 & 2-inch diameter of holes. 1/2 inch & 19 gauge chicken wire is ideal for chickens. The chicken wire is usually 19-22 gauge. Ensure the fence is made of galvanized steel to prevent rust & last longer.
Plastic chicken wire mesh is ideal for preventing injuries & keeping your birds, pets, or kids safe. However, ensure that the plastic is UV resistant to prevent degradation due to warm weather & sunlight.
Welded wire fence costs more but offers maximum durability & strength against predators due to the use of thick wire. Hence it’s ideal for long-term use.
Tip: For any fence you buy, choose the mesh size carefully so predators can’t harm them through the holes. Thin(sharp) wires can also lead birds to injuries
Step 3: Install T-posts:
Decide the T-post height:
Make sure to buy T-posts 2-3 feet taller than your fence, as a few feet will bury under the ground.
For example, for a 5 feet fence, you should buy 8 feet T-posts.
T-post spacing:
For chicken fences, T-posts can be spaced 8-10 feet apart. However, if the soil is moist or there is heavy wind in your area, keep the distance less, between 5-8 feet, or drive more part of the posts into the ground.
T-Post depth:
As per rules, ½ or ⅓ of the post out of the ground must be grounded. For example, an 8 feet post should be driven up to 2-2.5 feet. Or simply drive the third part of the post.
We’ve to keep animals inside the enclosure, so we’ll install T-posts outside so the birds/animals can’t exert pressure on them.
As we attach the fence to the T-post studs, ensure they face the enclosure & are in the same direction.
Steps to install T-posts:
Mark spots on the ground to install T-posts for the chicken fence.
Aso, mark the part of T-posts that will be driven into the ground.
The next step is to install the T-posts. For this purpose, you can use manual & automatic post-driving tools such as:
- A manual post driver.
- Any heavy pipe closed from an end, such as a cast iron pipe.
- Drive T-posts with tractor bucket.
- Gas/Electric post pounder
However, if you don’t have post-driving tools & you don’t want to buy one, you can dig post holes using:
- An auger drill
- Manual auger
- Post-hole digger
- Shovel
Note: It’s not recommended to install T-posts by digging post holes because they are designed to be directly driven into the ground. T-posts won’t fix sturdily into the loose holes, making the fence lose. However, if you’ve decided to dig post holes, pound the soil with a hand compactor after placing the T-posts & filling the holes.
Similarly, install all t-posts at regular intervals, ensuring they are straight, studs & facing inwards. You can install wood posts at the corners for more sturdy fencing, as they bear more weight.
Remember, if you want to install a gate between the fence enclosure, measure the length of the gate along the hinges & install gate posts leaving the length of the gate.
Tip: Installing wooden posts at the corner is better to make your fence bear more pressure.
Step 4: Attach the chicken fence to the T-posts
- Start at the corner/starting post and unroll the chicken fence toward the remaining posts. Attach the fence to the T-post temporarily. This will help you keep the fence straight and stretched during installation.
- T-post clips are usually used to attach wire fences to T-posts and other metal posts. The wires of chicken fences are thin and cannot bear the force of installing the post clips. So we use zip ties or metal wire pieces to tie chicken wire to T-posts.
- Start at the corner post. Adjust the bottom of the chicken wire to ground level. Wrap the chicken wire tightly around the T-post. Make sure the fence is stretched from top to bottom.
- You will then need to tie the chicken wire to the T-post at regular intervals (6-12 inches) using zip ties or metal wires. Secure the fence to the T-post studs so that it doesn’t slide.
- Let’s move on to the next post. Pull the fence horizontally. When tying it to the T-post, use a flathead screwdriver to pull(stretch) the chicken fence.
- Keep the chicken wire boxes aligned from top to bottom to keep the fence straight(prevent sagging). Also, keep the fence stretched & straight from top to bottom. Use zip ties or metal wire to attach chicken wire to the T-posts.This way, attach the fence from top to bottom on each T-post & head forward.
How to keep the chicken fence from sagging?
The chicken fence is made of thin metal wires, so it tends to sag, which can deform its shape. To keep the fence straight & stretched, another DIY method is to install metal wires tightly between the corner posts at the top, bottom & center and attach the chicken wire to them.
For this, mark the corner posts at the same heights. Then tie metal wires tightly between the corner posts. Use zip ties or metal wire pieces to tie chicken wire to metal wire at regular intervals.
In this way, chicken wire will stay straight & stretched. However, it’s better to use wood posts at the corners to keep the post from sagging from pressure.
Step 5: Install gates between the fence
To install a gate between the fence enclosure, measure the length of the gate & install two T-posts(gate posts), leaving the length of the gate & additionally a few inches for the hinges. Terminate the fence at gate posts.
T-post hinges are commonly used to install gates with T-posts. Simply slide hinges over the T-posts & hook them to the hinges of the gates. However, it’s better to use wood posts as gate posts.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How to keep animals from digging under the chicken fence?
You must secure the bottom of your chicken fence so predators can’t dig under the fence into your property and harm your birds.
For this purpose, we can dig a 1-foot trench under the fence line, adjust the chicken wire into it & fill the trench.
Or we can attach a piece of chicken wire (at least 2 feet) horizontally at the bottom of the chicken fence. It’ll keep predators & pets from digging & breaking in or escaping.
- How to keep chickens from flying over the fence?
Remember that small to average-sized chickens can easily fly over a 6-8 feet fence. Follow these tips to keep your birds inside the fence:
- Adding lightweight netting over the fence can increase its height.
- If the fence is sagging, they can easily jump over the fence. So install a metal wire tightly between the corners posts & tie it to the top of the wire fence at regular intervals.
- Cover the chicken fence with a wire fence or similar materials if the fence covers a small area.
- Carefully cut off flying feathers (large ones) so they can’t fly.
- Provide enough space so chickens don’t fight & try to escape. Feed them adequately & keep fresh water in the fence.
- Provide them with loam/soil moist to keep them engaged & fresh.
- How high does a chicken fence need to be?
The chicken fence must be at least 4-8 feet high to discourage them from flying(escaping).
- How do you secure chicken wire to T-post?
We can attach chicken wire to T-posts using UV-resistant zip ties or galvanized metal wires.
Conclusion:
Finally, I would say the most important step while building a chicken fence is choosing the right gauge wire fence, installing T-posts erect at the right distance & keep the fence stretched & straight while attaching it to T-posts.
Zip ties or metal wire pieces are regularly used to tie chicken wire to T-posts. They are economical & long-lasting. Tying the top & bottom of the fence to a stretched metal wire can keep it from sagging.
To keep predators from digging, it’s helpful to dig a trench along the fence line or attach an additional piece of wire fence horizontally at the bottom of the fence can keep your birds safe.
If you still need guidance, ask us in the comments below.