how to stop digging predators?

Bury  hardware cloth 12- 18" around the perimeter of the run and coop.

One way is to go out about 18'' on the outside of the fence and bury some wire some some 5 or 6 '' deep. I also put a hot wire around the bottom and also around the top.

Instead of hardware cloth I use 2" x 4" woven wire laid out flat on the ground and connected (wired) to the base of the coop and run fencing.  I covered that wire with a little dirt, and when doggies or other diggers try tunneling they quickly run into a barrier that cannot deal with.  I also have hot wire offsets at the base and at the top and some others in between with a nice hot charger, 6 joule output, to leave a strong impression on any curious sniffers or would-be climbers.  Also have some outdoor flashing red Christmas tree lights strung on the corners of the coop.

If you use this approach, I would either use a 3-4' height roll of the woven wire.  There is nothing wrong with hardware cloth, but it is much more expensive.

If you have weasels or snakes in your area, hardware cloth is the only thing that comes small enough to keep  them out.

Your idea of the 48" hardware cloth and after that other fencing would do it, or you could even use 36" hardware cloth.  Either way I would run a hotwire .  I don't put a hotwire at ground level because I also free range, but a hotwire somewhere before the hardware cloth ends should stop any climbing.  I don't have bear. Shop around for the hardware cloth.  Wayfair was cheapest for me. & free shipping.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deviant 

In my area we have snakes, dogs, a little bear not a lot, coyote, and a lot of cats (not mine)

Would I do the whole run in hardware cloth? A 12x12 not counting the top will be about $200 plus the 4x4's to put them up. I need a hardware cloth coupon lol

for everything but the bear hardware cloth and a hot wire works...for the bear only thing i know that works is a 30-06 or something equally as powerful.