Inside antennas will work, depending on the band and type of antenna, but
they can be effected by any number of things, like the chicken wire mesh to
which you referred, other house wiring, e.g. your electrical wiring,
telephone and cable TV wiring, metal roof, etc. However, you also need to
consider the possible health effects of being exposed to high levels of RF,
and often such RF will mess with your digital devices, clocks, telephone
answering machines, computers, etc. As an example, I had an inside antenna
in close proximity to my computer, telephone answering machine, and talking
scales, and the RF from my 2-meter transceiver, when in high power, 50
watts, would cause my telephone answering machine to stop working, my
talking scales to start talking, and my computer's volume to go up. So, I
moved the antenna upstairs and much farther away from these digital devices,
and it solved my problem. 

Ron, K8HSY

Dr. Ronald E. Milliman
Retired Professor of Marketing
President: A3 Business Solutions (a3businesssolutions.com)
President: M&M Properties
Chair: American Council of the Blind's PR Committee
Chair: American Council of the Blind's MMS Committee
President: South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind (SCKCB.ORG)