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How to Stuff Chicken Wire
- To stuff a chicken wire for a float, secure the chicken wire to the float frame.
- Fill the chicken wire with buoyant material like styrofoam.
- Fold tissue paper sheets and fill chicken wire holes to create structures.
- Use sheets in bunches for thicker piles on the float.
Building a Parade Float
- First, build a sturdy frame using wood or metal.
- Cover the frame completely with chicken wire.
- Spray adhesive onto the chicken wire before adding decorations.
- Tissue paper sheets placed in bunches fill holes for thickness.
- Add toys, balloons, or other decorations, deciding on a design first.
Covering a Float
- Smooth float bed surfaces can be painted well with latex or glittered lightly.
- Artificial grass or “AstroTurf” can cover float tops, especially with young riders.
- During festivals, floats can be covered in popcorn and/or seeds.
- For Christmas, decorated trees can be placed over floats.
- Quilt batting or bedspreads can be used to create a snow-like effect.
- Floral Sheeting rolls 36 inches wide by 10 yards cover float surfaces well.
Additional Information
- Costs for high-quality floats start around $275,000 and can be higher.
- Parade floats often have 100-200 pounds of glitter, so costs add up.
- Average costs per float range from $30,000 to $100,000.
- Labor is expensive when building a quality float.
- Chicken wire has many uses, including parade floats and garden fencing.
- Extending chicken wire under coops helps deter predators.
- Hardware cloth stronger than chicken wire keeps predators out with 1/4 inch or less spacing.
