Hardware cloth apron when the ground is frozen?

[LilLee]

Hello!
Ok, so I have built my lovely ladies a hoop coop run for the winter. I used cattle panels to make the hoops, and it’s all attached to an Eglu cube coop. I have it lined with straw bales and covered with greenhouse plastic. I call it my chicken solarium

I had the best intentions to finish it up way back in October, but it took longer than expected and well, life got busy! It’s pretty much ready now for the girls to start using it, but the only thing I haven’t yet completed is putting on a hardware cloth apron for digging predators. I did one side but it was a big pain and now it’s cold out!

I’m wondering….how important is it that I get the apron on if the ground is frozen??? Will a predator dig through frozen ground?

The ladies will be closed in the Eglu at night, and I’m only using the hoop coop during the day.

I’m in VT, zone 4 (cold, brr!) and have every manner of predator: weasels, foxes, etc etc.

Thanks!

 

[azygous]

Your predators do not hibernate in winter, so a determined animal will still be able to dig. It will just take longer. Which buys you time if you develop the habit of inspecting the perimeter each morning to notice any attempts to excavate into your meat market.

 

[Percheron chick]

I wouldn't worry about it but if you are stressing about it, take a roll of fence or cattle panels and lay them on top of the ground against the run. Take some landscaping staples and secure it to the ground.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I personally would try to get it installed, but not worry about securing it flat to the ground just yet, until things thaw out and you can better staple/secure it to the ground itself.

 

[saysfaa]

I would attach it to the run but at every other or every third spot. Then add the rest of the screws in the spring

Or take sections into the basement to attach them to 1x4s. Then attach the 1x4 to the coop or run.

 

[Nodakj]

I would not worry about it if you keep an eye on it. We both know how hard the ground freezes. And so do the animals.