bottom area of the run

[stitch]

is ok to fence the bottom area or should I leave it open for chickens to scratch around on the grass area?

 

[Heidi]

Definitely fence the bottom w/ chicken wire so you don't have preditors slidding under. I bury the first 6 inches of my chicken wire as well. I also have heavy logs and rocks surrounding the fenced in area just in case an animal decided to dig.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

My run doesn't have wire on the bottom. But the sides have wire that sticks out over 2ft, covered with mulch and bricks and rocks on top of that. Nothing has gotten in yet.

 

[Chirpy]

I believe you are asking if you should lay wire down on top of the ground, covering the run area - meaning that the chickens
would be walking on top of it??

No, let them walk directly on the ground so they can scratch and be chickens!

What the others are saying is to attach wire to the bottom of the fencing and burying it down into the ground at least 15-18 inches so that predators cannot dig below the fence and get into the run area.