Anyone use chicken wire (poultry fence) instead of glass for front of enclosure?

I am looking at potentially building a custom enclosure for a potentially new snake (adult Dumeril's boa) :D

I've drawn out plans and priced materials, and have it down to about $50 for wood, hinges, paint, etc. Until I get to the front of it: $30+ for Plexiglas, and a precut piece of glass is probably even more money. I want the front to be 48Lx12H. Anyone used chicken wire as a front screen? I could set it in a wood frame. I found this on Home Depot's site:

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pro...b1dc15_300.jpg

It's just plastic fencing. I wouldn't need to add any other ventilation, so that would save me money on getting the finer window mesh. But I think it would let in TOO much air, and not hold in any humidity?

If I need Plexiglas or similar, by the time I'm done buying everything I'll be pretty close to the price of a nice used setup at the reptile shop. I want what's best for the snake, not for me, so cheaping out for a few bucks is not worth it to me. If this poultry fence sounds like a bad idea, I think I'll just get the Boaphile cage the guy showed me, and see if I can't talk them down for a snake/cage combo.

Id be worried about using it. since its plastic it may crack over time and be earier for your snake to get out not to mention heat and humitity regulation would be a HUGE pain

Spend the money and not cheap out on the door. I built a cage with 4x2 plexi glass piece under 30$. Price goes by thickness. All you need is 1/8th thickness to 1/4th

I'd say go with the plexi glass.

Also I'd recommend checking you Reptile Basics custom cages. I use their racks and love em and I've heard nothing but good things about their cages.
http://www.reptilebasics.com/reptile-cages/

Poultry fence is a bad idea.

You will not be able to mention temps and humidity.

You will end up with head and nose rubbing.

Etc

Your boa is not a chicken it, a boa ;)

It was just a late-night notion, lol :rolleyes:I can see why it would not work, though. I didn't even think about the potential nose-rubbing.

I've bought from Reptile Basics before, just accessories, but they're a good company. Their cages are a lot like the Boaphiles at the shop.

I was pricing Plexiglas for 1/4" thickness, but maybe I can find something better locally. I'd really like to build this thing myself, if I can figure out the front part. Hell, I could buy a couple of cheap picture frames and take the glass out of them, and frame the pieces into the door. Hmmm...

I think we must use metal hexagonal, but the mesh must calculate compliance Oh!