Fencing wire has a long history in the United State. Basically, barbed wire fencing has been used and is still used to keep cattle from wandering away from their property. The fencing is well-suited for such situations as it is made with sharp points along strands of wire that make it hard for an animal or human to get in or out of a property as doing so can cause a good deal of injury.

A Popular Fencing Option
The first barbed wire was patented in 1867 and credited Lucien B. Smith of Ohio for the invention. However, Joseph F. Glidden received a patent later for an upgraded design of the fencing. Because of its economy and ease of installation, a barbed wire fence is the first choice when it comes to securing grazing land. You could say that it’s the reason that cowboys stopped driving cattle to market. So, it created a barrier in the Western U.S. in more ways than one.

A Warning not to Trespass or Escape
Throughout history, fence wire has been used for keeping animals confined to certain areas. After the Civil War, fencing was important to people living on ranches as they needed to set boundaries against trespassing while also keeping their cattle on their land as well. In addition, fencing at the time also kept cattle off railroad tracks. Because usual materials, such as stone and wood, were not readily available in the western states and territories, fencing made of wire served as a viable alternative. Barbed wire is also used extensively to secure prisoners because of its durability and the potential harm it can inflict for anyone trying to get past its barbed boundaries.

Two Types of Barb Wire
Nevertheless, barbed wire is employed mainly in the cattle industry. With respect to agricultural fencing, you can choose to use high tensile or soft galvanized wire. High tensile wire will last a long time as it can’t be loosened. However, the soft kind of barbed wire is simpler to handle although it provides a lesser degree of sturdiness. Therefore, it’s often used as fencing for repairs and maintenance.

A Hexagonal Design
On the other hand, a chicken wire fence is a fence made of a light mesh-type wire and is the regular choice for fencing chickens. Also called poultry netting, it is constructed with a thin, galvanized wire that produces a hexagonal pattern when used as a fence. You can obtain the wire in diameters of ½ inch, 1 inch and 2 inches. You can also obtain the wire in gauges of 19 or 22 gauge. While the wire for chicken fencing is used mainly for fencing chickens, it is also used at times for caging small animals or for protecting one’s property.

Used to Build Stucco Structures
Used predominantly in fencing, the chicken wire is also employed in the construction trade where the wire serves as a type of grid to hold cement for stucco buildings.

Use Chicken Wire in the Garden
Of course, while the normal reason for buying wire fencing is for security, it can also be used for more decorative reasons as well. You can use certain types of wire, for instance, to enhance the looks of your vegetable or flower garden. Fencing can also be used to support plants and help them grow. Using wire fencing for outside landscaping and decorating is an affordable option. For example, chicken wire is less pricey than other kinds of wire. It’s also not as obvious and provides a measure of translucence when you view it from any interior building.

While you can obtain fencing materials from most hardware stores, you can also purchase them online without difficulty. Looking at the Internet also makes it easier for you to acquire the exact fencing material you’ll need. So, take a look online before heading to the hardware store.