Have you ever looked at that humble roll of hexagonal wire mesh in your garage and wondered about its origins? I certainly have! As a DIY enthusiast and history buff, I find it absolutely fascinating how some of the most ordinary items around us have extraordinary backstories. Today, we’re diving deep into the history of chicken wire – that flexible galvanized mesh that’s found everywhere from farms to art studios.
Who Invented Chicken Wire and When?
So when exactly was chicken wire invented? The answer is 1844
Charles Barnard, a British ironmonger from Norwich, England, is credited with inventing chicken wire in 1844. As the son of a farmer, Barnard was motivated by a practical problem – his father needed a better way to keep chickens from escaping their coop. Talk about solving real-world problems!
Barnard drew inspiration from the cloth-weaving machines that were common in Norwich at the time. He developed a machine that could weave thin, flexible galvanized steel wire into a mesh with hexagonal holes – and thus, chicken wire was born!
I find it pretty amazing that a product developed almost 180 years ago is still being used widely today with relatively few changes to its basic design. That’s the mark of a truly brilliant invention!
The Early Development of Chicken Wire
After its invention, Barnard didn’t just sit on his creation. He established a company called Barnard, Bishop & Barnard to manufacture chicken wire and other wire netting products. The business grew rapidly as demand increased both in Britain and internationally.
The early versions of chicken wire had larger holes – about 2 inches across. As manufacturing techniques improved, smaller mesh holes around 1 inch wide became the standard that we’re familiar with today.
While it was originally designed for farm use (hence the name “chicken wire”), creative folks quickly found all sorts of applications for this versatile material.
Interestingly, there’s some conflicting information about the invention. According to one source, an American ironmonger named Aaron Damen built the world’s first wire-netting machine in 1879, basing his design on cloth weaving machines. However, multiple sources confirm Barnard’s earlier 1844 invention, making him the most likely original inventor.
How Chicken Wire is Made
The production process of chicken wire is actually pretty interesting. The material is made from thin, flexible galvanized steel wire. The “galvanized” part is important – it means the steel is coated with zinc to protect it from corrosion and rusting.
The manufacturing process involves:
- Drawing steel wire to the appropriate gauge (typically 19-22 gauge)
- Galvanizing the wire with zinc
- Weaving the wire into its characteristic hexagonal pattern
- Cutting and rolling the finished product
The hexagonal pattern isn’t just for looks – it provides strength while allowing the material to be rolled up for transport and storage. Pretty clever, right?
Beyond the Chicken Coop: Unexpected Uses Through History
While chicken wire was initially created for containing poultry (obviously!), its uses expanded dramatically over time. Here are some of the most interesting applications I’ve discovered:
Military Applications During World War II
During World War II, chicken wire found some unexpected military applications:
- The fine wire used to make chicken wire was repurposed to create large wire ground mats for radar systems in the UK, creating a countrywide shortage
- German soldiers used chicken wire to help camouflage their helmets by weaving plants and branches into it
Chicken Wire Glass: A Revolutionary Safety Material
One of the most innovative applications came in 1894, when chicken wire was incorporated into glass manufacturing. The Pilkington Group in the UK was among the first to manufacture chicken wire glass.
The process was ingenious – they sandwiched steel wire mesh between two separate ribbons of semi-molten glass and then passed this “sandwich” through metal rollers that squeezed the wire and glass together. The high temperature ensured cohesion between the metallic netting and the glass, creating a single material.
This wasn’t just a novelty – it created glass with extraordinary strength. A quarter-inch-thick piece of chicken wire glass was just as strong as a half-inch-thick piece of ordinary glass! It wouldn’t shatter like regular glass, making it perfect for skylights and other overhead applications where falling shards would be dangerous.
Additionally, chicken wire glass:
- Acted as a fire retardant
- Was practically burglar-proof
- Blocked 99% of UV rays
- Provided good sound insulation
Construction and Artistic Uses
Chicken wire has been used extensively in construction:
- As a metal lath to hold cement or plaster (stuccoing)
- In Australia, a cladding material called “Conite” used chicken wire backed with building paper and covered with cement render
- For creating ferrocement (concrete reinforced with chicken wire)
- As an armature for papier-mâché sculptures
Chicken Wire Today: Still Clucking Along
Over 175 years since its invention, chicken wire remains incredibly popular. Modern applications include:
- Traditional uses for fencing and containing poultry
- Garden fencing to protect plants from animals
- Craft projects and artistic sculptures
- Construction and home improvement projects
- DIY household solutions
The versatility and affordability of chicken wire ensure it’s still frequently found in homes, gardens, farms, and workshops worldwide.
Why Has Chicken Wire Remained So Popular?
I’ve often wondered what makes certain products stand the test of time while others fade away. With chicken wire, I think there are several factors:
- Simplicity: The basic design is straightforward but effective
- Versatility: It can be used for countless applications
- Affordability: It’s inexpensive to produce and purchase
- Durability: When galvanized properly, it resists corrosion
- Practicality: It solves common problems effectively
Fun Facts About Chicken Wire
Let me share some interesting tidbits I’ve discovered in my research:
- The term “chicken wire” in chemistry refers to molecules with fused carbon rings that resemble the pattern of chicken wire
- In photonics, the “chicken-wire effect” describes a pattern of low transmission lines between multifiber bundles
- Chicken wire can inadvertently create a Faraday cage that blocks Wi-Fi, cellular, and other radio frequency transmissions
- The thickness of chicken wire has reduced over time, from early versions nearly 1/16 inch thick to modern versions as thin as 28 gauge
Should You Use Chicken Wire? Practical Considerations
If you’re considering using chicken wire for a project, here’s what you should know:
Chicken wire is ideal if you need:
- An inexpensive way to keep poultry and livestock in a safe environment
- To build spacious cages for small animals
- To protect gardens and crops from browsing animals
- A flexible material for craft projects
The standard sizes available are:
- 1/2 inch (about 1.3 cm) diameter
- 1 inch (about 2.5 cm) diameter
- 2 inch (about 5 cm) diameter
Wire gauges typically range from 19 gauge (about 1 mm wire) to 22 gauge (about 0.7 mm wire).
Some Strange Modern Uses
People can be pretty creative with chicken wire! Some unusual modern applications include:
- Wrapping cars in chicken wire to deter animals (particularly rodents) from chewing on vehicle parts
- Creating elaborate Halloween decorations and ghost figures
- Building chicken wire and cement sculptures
- Fashioning DIY photography light diffusers
- Making rustic wedding decorations
It may not seem glamorous, but humble chicken wire has proven to be one of the handiest materials around. We have Charles Barnard’s simple but clever idea from 1844 to thank for the many ways chicken wire aids us even today.
Next time you encounter chicken wire holding up a tomato vine or creating an intriguing art piece, think of Barnard and the 19th century farmers who were the first to put this woven wire to work. It’s a perfect example of how solving a simple problem – keeping chickens contained – can lead to an invention with impacts far beyond what the creator ever imagined.
I’d love to hear from you! Have you used chicken wire in any interesting or unusual ways? Drop a comment below with your creative chicken wire applications!
Editor’s note: This article was last updated on September 12, 2025, with the latest information about the history and applications of chicken wire.
Chicken Wire: What Is It?
Chicken Wire: When to UseChicken wire should only be used to keep chickens in, not predators out!! If you want to keep predators at bay, use hardware cloth. When used as an internal barrier in the coop or run, chicken wire is a great choice. In the coop or existing run it can be used to safely and easily separate flock members or to introduce new flock members. It doesn’t have to be super strong to keep them apart, so chicken wire will work perfectly. Keeping chickens out of your garden is one of its best uses! Chicken wire is an inexpensive, easy way to protect the areas of your yard that you don’t want chickens in, saving your flowers and veggies from an ignominious end.
- It is not strong enough.
- Holes in the weave can be easily penetrated by predators.
- Bantams and small chicks can become caught in the weave.
Raccoons, skunks, foxes, bobcats, and opossums can tear or bite through the wire, as can larger predators such as coyotes. After all, they have the whole night to get dinner! In addition to being able to reach through the wire and grab a chicken, raccoons are also able to rip off chicken wire that has been used to cover windows and vents. Weasels, snakes, mice, and rats can easily slip through the weave without any problem at all, although if a snake eats eggs it is unlikely to get out again for some time. Although chicken wire is called chicken wire, it does little to protect chickens, but it can be used along with other materials.
The production detail of chicken wire
FAQ
Who invented chicken wire?
Chicken wire was actually invented back in 1844 by an English ironmonger called Charles Barnard. He lived in the town of Norwich which was a cloth weaving town. He took the basic principles from the cloth loom and applied it to wire and created a simple, cheap and easy way to keep small animals and poultry penned in one area.
What is chicken wire?
Chicken wire, or poultry netting, is a mesh of wire commonly used to fence in fowl, such as chickens, in a run or coop. It is made of thin, flexible, galvanized steel wire with hexagonal gaps.
What is chicken wire fencing?
In the process of applying the basic principles from the cloth loom to wire, he created a way to keep poultry and small animals in one place that was cheap, simple, and easy. In modern times, most people fence in their chickens with chicken wire fencing to keep them safe.
What is chicken wire made of?
It is made of thin, flexible, galvanized steel wire with hexagonal gaps. Available in 12 inch (about 1.3 cm), 1 inch (about 2.5 cm) diameter, and 2 inch (about 5 cm), chicken wire is available in various gauges —usually 19 gauge (about 1 mm wire) to 22 gauge (about 0.7 mm wire).
Who invented the wire netting machine?
Aaron Damen, an American ironmonger, built the world’s first wire-netting machine in 1879. He based his design on cloth weaving machines. Soon the invention spread far and wide due to the vast improvement over the then used wooden fence.
What gauge is chicken wire?
Available in 12 inch (about 1.3 cm), 1 inch (about 2.5 cm) diameter, and 2 inch (about 5 cm), chicken wire is available in various gauges —usually 19 gauge (about 1 mm wire) to 22 gauge (about 0.7 mm wire). Chicken wire is occasionally used to build inexpensive pens for small animals (or to protect plants and property from animals).
When did they invent chicken wire?
Now that you have seen the many ways people use chicken wire glass, we thought it would be interesting to take a step back and look at the origins of this amazing product. First, we need to start with the chicken wire itself, which was invented in 1844 by British ironmonger Charles Barnard.
When was wire invented in the USA?
ORDINARY wire was invented about 2,000 years ago. In 1873 Joseph Glidden, an American farmer, invented barbed wire similar to that in use today. But some other Americans produced primitive forms earlier; the first was probably L B Smith of Ohio in 1867.
Why do people put chicken wire around their cars?
The full-wrap of chicken wire keeps squirrels, rats, mice, and raccoons from getting into the car, especially from getting into the engine. Squirrels, rats, mice, and raccoons like to nest in the engine and eat the plastic on the engine wiring. This will totally destroy the wiring harness and cause expensive repairs.
How old is chicken wire glass?
Classic Chicken Wire Glass – 3841
Commonly used in various public and commercial buildings starting in the late 1920’s up until around the late 1960’s. Today this glass is back in style in a big way! Restaurants, bars, and even private homes are using this cool glass of yester-year for a vintage retro look.