chicken wire

Chicken wire, or poultry netting, is a mesh of wire commonly used to fence poultry livestock. It is made of thin, flexible galvanized wire, with hexagonal gaps. Available in 1 inch (about 2.5cm) diameter, 2 inch (about 5cm) and 1/2 inch (about 1.3cm), chicken wire is available in various wire gauges usually 19 gauge (about 1mm wire) to 22 gauge (about 0.7mm wire). Chicken wire is occasionally used to build inexpensive cages for flying animals, though the zinc content of galvanized wire makes it inappropriate for gnawing animals such as parrots.[citation needed] In construction, chicken wire is used as a matrix to hold cement or plaster, in a process known as stuccoing. Concrete reinforced with chicken wire yields ferrocement, a versatile construction material.