chicken wire not a good choice?

[Yellow Turtle01]

Hi,
So I recently finish my tortoise's outdoor pen, and it is fairly large (6x10) but I've been think about keeping out at night, so now I need a lid.
Because it's big, any fancy wire in large amounts would cost a lot, so would chicken wire be okay? I know people say it's a no-no but I have three sliders outside too with fancier, heavy duty wire (I was expecting critters) and the racoons have NEVER bothered them. Ever. I don't want a fox or other predator to lift him, so should I go with a heavier wire?

 

[Yvonne G]

...or you could just bring him in every night and put him back out in the a.m.

Make sure to pick up any uneaten food that might attract racoons.

 

[wellington]

A hardware cloth is not very expensive and has heavier Gage's then chicken wire and is steadier. I would use that. It looks like this http://t.homedepot.com/s/Hardware cloth?searchtype=text

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

...or you could just bring him in every night and put him back out in the a.m.

Make sure to pick up any uneaten food that might attract racoons.

I forgot to say he does have a night box, I can just put him in there over night, and I can just bring him in.... this year is the first yaer hes been outside, and he really seems to enjoy it, so I was just looking to let him stay out if it's warm. He usually eats ALL his food, but I do pick up the leftovers

 

[Tom]

Chicken wire will keep birds out, but most mammalian predators can get through it. The hardware cloth or welded wire will only cost a little more than the chicken wire in the small amount you need and it is really worth the few extra bucks. I like the 1x1 inch or 1x2 inch welded wire. You can fin it in 4' tall rolls at OSH and it cost around $2 a foot. To me the peace of mind would be worth the few extra bucks.

I would also lock him up at night, either indoors or out. I close all my outdoor tortoises up in their night boxes every night.

 

[Jacqui]

Plus chicken wire tends to rust much sooner then other wire (atleast here it does). Another plus is it is easier for them to climb chicken wire then it is the smaller heavier gauge wire.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Hmmm... I'll look into the hardware cloth, and heavier wire for the lid. Thanks

 

[Len B]

Instead of the hardware cloth you would be better off using two layers (laced together) of a quality chicken wire, poultry netting, hex mesh or whatever name it goes by. Welded wire is probably the best but it is heavy. The reason I choose multi layered chicken wire over hardware cloth is, years ago I had a pet raccoon that could dismantle hardware cloth with little effort. I ended up using chain link fence and the escapes ended. --To lace chicken wire together and pull up any slack use a cotter pin puller. I believe the stronger chicken wire is stainless steel 17 ga with the double direction twist. -- note to Jacqui stainless wont rust--