Do your chickens dig down below your fencing in your run?

[Country4ever]

We have a run that's supported by cedar 4x4's, connected with cedar 2x4's at the top, middle and bottom, covered with utility wire and 1/2" hardware cloth. The fencing is sunk about 6-8" down into the ground, and then on the outside perimeter I've laid 2' hardware cloth around the whole thing. Thank heavens I have that, because the chickens keep digging down well below the bottom 2x4's and exposing about 4-6" of the buried fencing.
I went out today and bought more cedar 2x4s and they will fit nicely into those spaces. I will attach them to the other connecting 2x4s with mending plates.
But why do the girls do that??? Don't they know they're making their run less safe?

Here's hoping they don't dig below these next 2x4's!

 

[patandchickens]

Put pavers, or bricks, or concrete rubble, or big rocks, or suchlike, all around the inside of the run fence. This will force the chickens to do their excavations further from the actual fence itself, so that their holes do not end up busting out underneath to the other side.

Have fun,

Pat

 

[consdrs]

I was always afraid that something would dig INTO my run. I buried fencing all around my run. then after a couple weeks I was afraid they were gonna DIG OUT! mine like the perimeter because it is a little moister there.

Connie

 

[AK Michelle]

Good to know, I was gonna start my run this weekend.

I've been fighting a constant battle with my truly talented escape goats. They seem to be able to break out of anything, I guess they were just training me so I would be prepared for the chicken run.

Fortunately I live in an old glaciar bed, so I have tons of rocks, now I know what I can do with them.

Michelle

 

[EweSheep]

Yep they do dig down and out!