digging girls!

[MCreery]

I started with 7 chicks last March, 2 ended up being roos, which have luckily been rehomed to a farm. Now I have 5 great hens in a HUG yard area for them. Built a second coop for more hens coming over next 2 months which will total 16 hens by April 1 in 2 huge coops/yards. My second coop which is smaller has a 4 inch concrete footer all the way around. But my original one only had 4x4 and sunken timber along with a 6 inch outer layer of chicken wire/mesh. But my Girls (5 of them) are digging the CRAP out of the inner perimeter. Any suggestions on what I can put around the boarder INSIDE the run to block the digging to make sure the don't Shaw Shank the coop? Thx

 

[CluckerFamily]

Maybe you could add more dirt or sand.
Or sprinkle some treats in the mounds of dirt they create so that they end up scratching the dirt back into their holes they created.

 

[LizzzyJo]

Do they have access to dust baths, they’re making them themselves by digging.

 

[3KillerBs]

My ladies LOVE to dig and when the holes get too deep for my comfort I fill them up with pine straw. (Photos Here).

It keeps them busy for a week or two then I do it again.

The really deep holes that threaten a Great Escape scenario get a concrete block or two.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Anything I don't want them digging against, I put down bricks, rocks, large branches... anything that's not too easy to budge that I can salvage from the yard. Bedding, dirt, sand, soil, etc all get kicked out of the way too easily.

 

[Shezadandy]

1 1/2" gravel, the big chunky angular stuff. They can still move it around - but it doesn't hold the same appeal as digging through dirt.

 

[jreardon1918]

We do a twice daily perimeter review of the coop and run. Doing it regularly lets us know where attention is needed. Any excess digging inside gets filled with rocks, Logs, bricks, dirt... Any digging from outside gets very closely investigated.

 

[MCreery]

Thanks everyone....From my picture you can see the wood edge...the other side has buried wire but inside they are digging down!! All of the advise is great...yes they do have 2 dirt bath areas, one in the bottom of the coop that they love and a sand box with a tire sunk in the ground. I definitely inspect every day, its more about the sides not washing in over them "breaking" out. i got additional 1x6 boards to sink in along the bottom to add to the already 3" timbers sunk in! Tis way they can dig but no way for water to errod.
Thanks again for the advise! Have rocks too Spoiled hens just so you know!!

 

[Aapomp831]

Shawshank out.... LOL.
We do the cinder block thing. Works great.

 

[Lucy Brown]

I add bricks to the inner perimeter of the coop so they cant dig too far