burying "apron" around coop, and hardware cloth question

[nh104]

i am setting up the apron to go down 2-3 inches and then out 15 or so inches. then backfilled with dirt and then im placing 12x12 paver stones on top for extra protection and to tidy up the look. Might be overdoing it but it makes me feel better.

 

[SacCityChickens]

I layed 18" of hardware wire flat, all around the outside & covered it with 3" of DG (decomposed granite).
It's stayng burried & works very well
You don't have to dg down, mine is laying out flat.
Good luck
SCC

 

[3forfree]

All the critter deterants look good for the diggers but what about chewers? I used to raise pigeons and had a nice plywood coop and hardware cloth flyway for them. Went out one morning and found something had chewed it's way into the coop, only a hole about an inch in diameter in the door, and killed every pigeon that I had. Don't know what it was but was told that weasels will chew, so next time I will put hardware cloth on the bottom of the coop also.

 

[Sandywitch]

Oh, that looks nice as well!

 

[wsmith]

For my "apron" I use "re-purposed" chain link fencing. I cut it down lengthwise to get strips at least 2 feet wide. Then I lay it on the ground butted up next to the fence posts BEFORE attaching the wood pickets. Then when my wood pickets are on, I also use wire fencing and attach it to the outside of the wood with U nails.
It is VERY important to anchor the skirting in some way at least until the grass, etc. grow up through it. And use rebar or large spikes to fasten any butt seams together. If you don't, the wire skirting will come apart at the splice, and a dog WILL find the weakness and get in. Talking from experience here.

 

[The Lazy L]

A couple of questions for you folks as we finish the new run...

What is the standard depth and width to which most people bury their chicken wire apron? We were figuring on one foot deep and two feet out...would this be enough?

And regarding hardware cloth... It seems standard practice to wrap the bottom couple of feet of the fence in this. Our fence is 2x4 welded wire. What predator would the hardware cloth be for? Weasels? I was thinking they could just climb up the hardware cloth till they could get through one of the 2x4 holes in the welded wire....would this be the case, or no? I would imagine there is a reason for the hardware cloth as so many people seem to do it, but there is obviously something I'm missing as I need it spelled out for me.

I didn't bury mind just fan it out 2 feet + -

 

[ll]

Our hardware cloth comes out 2ft and is flat ... but then I laid bricks over all around the front and rocks all along the back.

This is a continuous piece rolled right down over the ground.
There is a brick pathway all along the front.