Hardware cloth: to bury or skirt?

[dirtybirdskyhag]

We are getting our coop next week and i plan to work on the foundation this weekend. I think we have decided to put the coop next to the house (as opposed to next to the fence) to deter predators from digging under our 6ft high wooden fence. You folks have convinced me to use hardware cloth around the perimeter (thank you!). Should i bury it 4" or so under the soil surface or skirt it out from the base? Is there an advantage of one over the other?

Fyi, although we are in Central Austin, we live on a creek/greenbelt. We have seen foxes, possums, racoons etc on the prowl around here for years.

Thanks for the help!

 

[crazyhen]

I would definitly skirt it. Chickens like to dig too and sometimes remove soil around the inside edge making it easy for a preditor. The skirt that is under the grass level that extends at least 18" out from the wire will stop them. They dig down through the grass and hit the fence. Then they will go to another spot and do the same. I had a fox dig down in about 6 places before he gave up and left. Good luck with your chickens. Gloria Jean

 

[okallthis4eggs]

How long will the hardware cloth last buried in the ground. Also should the skirt be buried inside the run or outside the run ?

 

[QueSeraSera]

So wait-- it sounds like you're saying to bury AND skirt?

(btw, Crazyhen-- we're practically neighbors!)

 

[Jaxon4141]

We are getting our coop next week and i plan to work on the foundation this weekend. I think we have decided to put the coop next to the house (as opposed to next to the fence) to deter predators from digging under our 6ft high wooden fence. You folks have convinced me to use hardware cloth around the perimeter (thank you!). Should i bury it 4" or so under the soil surface or skirt it out from the base? Is there an advantage of one over the other?
Fyi, although we are in Central Austin, we live on a creek/greenbelt. We have seen foxes, possums, racoons etc on the prowl around here for years.
Thanks for the help!

Skirts (predator guards) on the outside are far better at keeping diggers out than buried wire down into the ground. It's hard for predators to figure out to dig away from the run fence. If you already have grass growing around the outside of your run, I would just mow the grass short and pin the outside edges of the predator guards down with U shaped pieces of wire. The grass will grow up through it and it will bury itself. My preference is to use heavier gauge fencing as predator guards, but hardware cloth will work. One foot predator guards work, but if you think you have some cleaver predator about, 18" wouldn't hurt.

How long will the hardware cloth last buried in the ground. Also should the skirt be buried inside the run or outside the run ?

I just recently dug up some 1/2 inch hardware cloth that I had buried about 15 years ago. The only hole it had in it were the ones I made with the shovel. How long will it last for someone else? That depends on what type of climate you live in.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Thanks jaxon4141 thats good information. I was concerned about the buried hardware cloth rusting away in a couple years. Guess the galvanizing coating really does its job even when its buried. My run sits right next to the woods and I have every chicken eating predator you can name who will give it a test sooner or later so I need to get this part right.

 

[crazyhen]

I put it ouside the fence ,make an Lshape to the fence , and under a layer of grass. It last indefinitely for me in the mtns. gloria Jean