How do you feel about...

[silkiechick05]

by "trench" i meant to dig and then install wire down there.

LOL i doubt an actual "trench" would do anything!

maybe a moat??

 

[patandchickens]

Yes, it's just that that's the hard way of digproofing a run

Pat

 

[Luna_Chick66]

I took pics as we progressed... we dug about a foot down:

the back and side fencing were existing fencing (dog yard) that we used hardware cloth on... the front has black hardware cloth on it.

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

I have a wire bottom on my cages. Its 2 by 4 welded wire. I would not recommend it.

 

[heaven1]

We built a fort knox run with 1/2 x 1 inch hardware cloth on the top, sides and bottom. It was probably more expensive, but we just could not dig the depth around the perimiter deep enough to bury the hardware cloth. It was actually like wrapping a package in hardware cloth. We put gravel under the run floor and then put several inches of sand on top of the hardware cloth floor for drainage, and then lots of pine needles, leaves and dirt. We have added more floor stuff for them as it gets packed down. They have not scratched down to the floor cloth yet. The run floor is just like the ground outside their fort knox, which they do get to free range in sometimes.

 

[elmo]

Instead of digging a trench and burying the hardware cloth apron, I used landscape fabric spikes, lots of them. The are about five or six inches long, and look like giant staples. I hammered them into the ground all around the perimeter in two or three rows. Grass is now growing up through the hardware cloth.

 

[BarkerChickens]

Around the run we dug down approx. 4-6" and started the side fencing from below the ground surface. However, on the inside of our fence around the entire yard is the apron that is stapled to the fence and then rests on the ground as an apron (probably 2" out or so). That way, it will be difficult for our dogs to dig out, for anything to come in and if something gets in (and gets past the dogs) the run is fairly secure. We don't have some of the common predators (weasels, raccoons, skunks, etc) and most larger predators have several things to get through before they'd ever get to the chickens. Nonetheless, our chickens are secure from any possible diggers.

 

[McCord6]

Hubby is digging 2 feet under where the fence is supposed to be and installin a predator proof fencing along the 2 feet deep holes then link them to the regular fencing above the ground. When the entire fenced area for the run is done, the holes will be covered with dirt.

 

[McCord6]

Quote:
hmmm... a moat around the coop and run sounds like a good idea, LOL but don't think it'll work for predators but it does sound pretty and would give the chickens an endless amount of water sources. A castle Coop...WOW! I think that'll be PRETTY!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

You get the same results just placing the wire flat on the ground and covering it with just enough dirt to let the grass grow through it as you do by doing all the digging.