Hardware cloth on the ground vs. burying

[Dahlisgrams]

We have the same problem with roots and rocks in our area, so we laid 18" of doubled wire on the ground along the outside of the run, overlapped the corners, and zip tied it to the chain link that was also lined with wire. Then used tent pegs and large rocks against the base of the run every few feet to help hold it all down. We did our fence the same way. It would take a strong animal to move those heavy rocks and so far so good. It was time consuming but gives some peace of mind knowing that if a predator wants to get in, we've made it MUCH more difficult to do so. Good luck!

 

[dominiques]

Got pics? I'm working on this tomorrow and would love to see what others do for fencing in their runs. Thanks!

 

[dominiques]

Got pics? I'm working on this tomorrow and would love to see what others do for fencing in their runs. Thanks!

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

For the apron around my coop and run I used 2" X 4" welded wire scraps that I had left over from other projects. However, this wire wouldn't prevent smaller things in the mink family from burrowing through). If you can afford it, hardware cloth would be better. I connected the wire to the bottom of the run, overlapping about 4" and using the tag ends of the wire to secure it. If you're using hardware cloth, use short pieces of 14 or 16 gauge galvanized wire to attach it to the wire of the run. I buried mine because we regularly drive and walk around part of it and grow plants over the other part. If grass grows where you live it might not matter much if you bury it or lay it on the surface of the ground--eventually the grass will grow up through it.

Here are pics of the apron around my coop/run after I installed it and before I covered it with soil:

 

[BigRooNTN]

You can also use wire clothes hangers (un-twisted and the bent to form a U shape) to hold down your hardware cloth......just like landscape staples, but long enough to actually DO something, and if you have the hangers, FREE!

Great idea. I only have a thousand or so. My DW thinks they shouldnt be thrown away

 

[cheapcheepcheep]

You can sort of see what I'm going for here, but I'm not done, and was shooting for the coop itself when I took the picture.




I've got the hardware cloth one the sides, and then run it an extra 2 feet out on the ground. For now I've just tacked down the corners with coat hanger bits, but will use more once the whole thing is done. Then I'm going to put dirt and landscape rock over it.

 

[dominiques]

Interesting. I did a bottom of my run in welded wire. I did the "roof" in welded wire too. I'm concerned about weasel type animals getting through. Do I need to do something else? Cover "roof" with chicken wire? And a hardware cloth apron to floor? Here's pics:




roof with welded wire:





Thanks for thoughts, tips etc. Mary