coyote proofing dog run around coop

[Stark]

Quote:
(1) You can use golf pegs too, plastic or painted wood. They are perfect for holding down the 1/4 x 1/4 hardware cloth and are less likely to destroy a mower if they come loose. Really it's just to keep the ends flush with the ground so they don't bend/curl up over time.

(2) Just cut one of the sides a foot longer than the actual run. The part on the ground will extend out as far as the skirt on the adjacent wall, and you can trim off the excess on the wall part. I can draw a picture if that's clear as mud haha

(3) I'd get whatever made economical sense, at least two feet wide, and have about a foot of shirt to deter diggers and a foot wrapping around the bottom of the run to keep the birds from poking their heads out.

Hope that helps

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Why do people think it should be buried?

Because somebody told someone it should be, then it kept being repeated without anyone really thinking it through.

If you make an apron 18-24 inches wide, and attach it to the base of the run fencing with J clips or "Hog Rings", it can lay flat on the surface and will keep predators out every bit as well as an apron buried below the surface

If you can stop them at the surface with minimal effort, why move all that dirt to only get the same end results?

Cover it with about an inch of dirt and let grass grwo up through it and you wont have to worry about hitting it with a mower or anchoring it in place, since the roots will do that for you​

 

[sandykopandy]

This makes so much sense. I think the people on this forum are brilliant! The burying thing- I think it's in our nature to think the harder we work, the better it is. I'm always happy for the "less is more" approach. Again, thanks to every single one of you who took the time to share your expertise with me today! I have hope that I can do this because of all of you!!!

 

[Stark]

Quote:

 

[halo]

I agree 100% with Bear Foot Farm. I have a welded wire apron around my kennels. Its old welded wire fence that I had laying around that I was going to just toss anyway. I just cut it in half (from 4foot to 2 foot) and attached it to the bottom of the kennel with zip ties. It just lays in the grass and cant even be seen. I dont mow that close, tho. I let the chickens take care of that. Im big on re-using materials for chicken stuff. Hardware cloth is too expensive to use that way.

 

[Ole rooster]

Yup.......just what he said. Works for me. Cept I attached the apron to the run fencing with galvanized light gauge wire. Twisted it with pliers. 18 inches out with 12X12 pavers on top. I went all the way around the coop and run with wire and pavers. The only digging I do is to plant what predators I get.

 

[yellowirenut]

Quote:
Because somebody told someone it should be, then it kept being repeated without anyone really thinking it through.

If you make an apron 18-24 inches wide, and attach it to the base of the run fencing with J clips or "Hog Rings", it can lay flat on the surface and will keep predators out every bit as well as an apron buried below the surface

If you can stop them at the surface with minimal effort, why move all that dirt to only get the same end results?

Cover it with about an inch of dirt and let grass grwo up through it and you wont have to worry about hitting it with a mower or anchoring it in place, since the roots will do that for you

To each there own....The digging was easy and it only took 15 extra min. If you have lots of roots or frail hands then i can see just saying it on top.
I did it for cosmetic reasons. I did not want to see any wire outside the run and have the grass fully in tack.

 

[bald egg]

I burried 1/2 welded wire all the way around my run. Down a foot and out 2 feet. Rather over do it than cleaning up chicken feathers and saying would of, should of, could have. It really didn't take that much extra time or expense. My pop door is open 24/7.

 

[ChickenCrazed]

To tack the wire down while you wait for grass to grow through the wire you can always cut wire clothes hangers...Just cut the two curved ends of the clothes hangers and push them down in the ground...That would be something you may have around the house!

 

[sandykopandy]

I hope this is my last question but no promises! How do i deal with the gate? I can't attach hardware cloth to it or it won't open. I'm going outside to start working on it (in the rain)! I hope to come back and find that someone knows the answer! Thanks dear chicken friends!