Hardware cloth on run floor?

[UrbanEggsCanada]

Hi Everyone!

We are going to have a small urban flock of 3-4 hens (buff orpingtons and black australorps). They will mostly be in their coop/run but when we are there to supervise we’ll let them out in our yard.

We have a TON of very smart raccoons and a few rats/mice etc where we live so obviously we want to make our coop and run as predator proof as possible.

We are considering putting hardware cloth on the floor of our run and then putting dirt/mulch etc on top of it. Is this a good idea?

I would also include a separate deeper dust bath inside the run as well.

Pros/cons?

 

[21hens-incharge]

A big NO to that from me.

Chickens make some amazingly deep holes. The scratching on top of wire can lead to foot damage from stuck toes/nails to bumble foot.

An apron of wire on the outside of the run is a much better and still effective choice.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

agree 100% with @21hens-incharge

 

[aart]

x3.
Wire will degrade over time,
making it even riskier for the 'excavators' to sustain a foot injury that could become infected and then bumblefoot.


Good examples of apron installation, tho I'd not recommend 1/2" HC...go with 14ga 1x2 or 1x1, will hold up much longer and is easier to lay flat.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

 

[UrbanEggsCanada]

Thanks everyone!! I really appreciate the feedback! I think we will go with the apron idea.