Chicken Wire in the Philippines: What It Is and When to Use It

Chicken wire is one of the most recognizable wire products in the Philippines — but it's used for a lot more than just poultry. This guide covers what chicken wire is, the standard sizes available locally, and the wide range of applications where it makes sense.

What is Chicken Wire?

Chicken wire (also called poultry netting or hexagonal wire mesh) is a lightweight galvanized wire mesh woven in a hexagonal (six-sided) pattern. The hexagonal design gives it a degree of flexibility and makes it easy to bend and shape around curved surfaces — something that welded wire and cyclone wire cannot do.

In the Philippines, chicken wire is most commonly made from galvanized iron wire at 0.70mm diameter with a 1×1 inch hexagonal opening.

Standard Sizes Available in the Philippines

Common Uses of Chicken Wire

Poultry Enclosures

The classic application. Chicken wire keeps chickens, ducks, and other small poultry contained while allowing air circulation. It is typically supported by wooden or steel posts and stapled or tied in place. Note that for predator protection, a heavier gauge welded wire is more effective — chicken wire can be pushed through or torn by determined animals.

Garden Fencing and Pest Control

Chicken wire is commonly used to fence off vegetable gardens from rabbits, chickens, and other small animals. Its flexibility allows it to follow uneven ground and wrap around garden beds easily.

Rabbit and Small Animal Hutches

The 1-inch hexagonal opening is appropriate for rabbit hutches and guinea pig enclosures. For the floor and sides of hutches exposed to the ground, a heavier welded wire may be preferable to prevent predators from digging in.

Concrete Plastering and Stucco

Chicken wire is used as a reinforcing mesh behind exterior plaster and stucco applications. It is tacked to a wall surface and then plastered over, giving the plaster a mesh to bond to and preventing cracking.

Compost Bins and Garden Structures

Formed into a cylinder, chicken wire makes an easy, open-sided compost bin that allows air to circulate freely through decomposing material. It can also be shaped into trellises and plant supports.

Chicken Wire vs. Welded Wire: Which Should You Use?