Bottom of run question...

[Chickidee26]

Is it bad to put hardware cloth on the ground of the chicken run and then cover it with sand and wood shavings? Our ground is literally boulders and rocks everywhere. I can’t stick a fork in the ground, let alone try to bury hardware cloth a foot or more beneath the run. We have a lot of predators that I am worried about getting in and trying to figure how to keep them out is stressing me!

 

[mowin]

I'm in NY also. We've got rocks, some large then a small car.

Don't need to bury it. Attach it to the bottom of the run then lay it on the ground 18" or more. Grass will grow through it and you won't even know it's there.

Not recommend to line bottom of the run. Chickens dig, and can injure their feet.

 

[Chickidee26]

I'm in NY also. We've got rocks, some large then a small car.

Don't need to bury it. Attach it to the bottom of the run then lay it on the ground 18" or more. Grass will grow through it and you won't even know it's there.

Not recommend to line bottom of the run. Chickens dig, and can injure their feet.

Thank you...I thought it would be bad on the bottom. Love the area we live in...hate the rock underground.

 

[mowin]

Thank you...I thought it would be bad on the bottom. Love the area we live in...hate the rock underground.

What part of NY are you in? I'm in Old Chatham.

And yes, the rocks are prolific in our area.

 

[aart]

Good examples of anti-dig apron installation.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wire-around-coop.1110498/#post-17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[Chickidee26]

What part of NY are you in? I'm in Old Chatham.

And yes, the rocks are prolific in our area.

Outside of Middletown (Orange Cty)

 

[mowin]

Outside of Middletown (Orange Cty)

Nice area. Delivered down in that area when I drove truck many yrs ago.

 

[thomas_trevett]

What type of sand is recommended for the run if we are using sand (for a couple of reasons)?