How far IN will a predator dig?!

[tenderkat]

Due to the location of my run, I will be unable to skirt my hardware cloth outward. I will need to trench it down along the perimeter of our run. Then I plan on backfilling along the interior of the run with cement blocks, rip rap, and whatever else I stumble upon.

I was able to get a 3 foot rool of hardware cloth, and I was hoping that I could bury 1 foot, and run 2 foot up the sides, overlapping my 2x4 welded wire. Will 1 foot deep be enough? And, if by chance a predator does get under the cloth, how far into the run will they tunnel?

 

[patandchickens]

Unfortunately I have to tell you that dogs and coyotes and foxes will *easily* dig more than 12" down. However if that's the best you can do it is certainly better than nothing and you may be lucky and never have a particularly determined predator trying to get in -- this is particularly likely if you have a fence around the yard to deter loose dogs and the chickens are locked in the coop from dusk to dawn.

It is not a bad idea to put large rubble or etc along the inside of the run fence, but more to keep chickens from accidentally 'digging' out while dustbathing than to keep predators away.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[tenderkat]

patandchickens,

Oohh..........you answered one of my posts!! Yeah!!

So, given my less than perfect situation, what would be a better depth to dig my trenches? Will six more inches make a difference, or not so much? I'm not so much worried about stray dogs or foxes, as our property is enclosed by a 6 foot fence. But, as I'm sure you can tell by my pics, my run will be right alongside the fence that butts my neighbors yard. I guess I really hadn't considered the fact that they might someday get a dog? Maybe on that side I can go deeper? The reason I was only going to go down a foot, is because I am worried about raccoons reaching through the perimeter of my run and snatching one of my hens. Do you know what an adequate distance up I could go with the hardware cloth, that would allow me to trench it in a bit deeper? I also have some chicken wire, maybe I can run that along the bottom as well? That way, i have a layer of hardware cloth, then 2x4 fencing, then chicken wire?

Thanks for your help,
Katherine

 

[patandchickens]

Six inches more is certainly better than *not* six inches more; whether it's worth the extra labor is something only you can decide, sorry. I guess if it were me -- I haven't seen your pics, they must be on another thread?, but your description is very clear -- i would probably trench the buried wire as deep as you can stand on the side that's along the fence shared with the neighbor.

On the sides that are fully within your own yard it would really be easier to run the wire outwards several feet as an apron (either with pavers or mulch over it, or the sod rolled up and the apron installed under the sod). But if you want to trench it in, I'd go 6-12" down if the chickens will be reliably locked indoors at dusk, or as deep as you can stand if you will sometimes be leaving the popdoor open (but I really wouldn't recommend that!)

I don't see that extra chickenwire is going to really add anything to your arrangement, so, prolly not worth the bother. Hardwarecloth will be quite adequate to prevent reach-through on the lower aboveground part of the fence.

If you are going to bury hardwarecloth, make real sure it is galvanized and of a heavy gauge (lower rather than higher numbers); but IMHO something like 1x1 or 2x4 welded wire, which comes in much heavier gauges, is really more appropriate for burial, since it will last longer before being weakened by rust. (Yes, buried *galvanized* wire *will* rust eventually)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[tenderkat]

Pat,

Here is a picture of my site. The run will come out from the white window side. Please excuse the cluttered/weedy garden area, I've been busy trying to figure out how to build a chicken coop - much more difficult than I expected!!

I will do my best to get the fencing buried as deep as I can in the areas I am unable to skirt it out. Then I will go outward where I can. My girls will be faithfully locked up tight in their coop from dusk till dawn every night. Which brings me back to my issues making sure my coop is predator proof.........................

Gosh, am I the only person who thinks they have it all planned out, after doing copious amounts of research, only to find out that I have no idea what I'm doing?

 

[Whirlwind]

Be sure you put a latch at the bottom of your coop door. thought mine was preditor proof and a coon squeezed in at the bottom of the door. Couldnt of been very much room latch was 2/3's of the way up. I now have 2 latches on each door and they are locked those coons are smart when they want a free chicken dinner.

 

[tenderkat]

Yeah, I'm still working on the door situation, I haven't quite figured out how to frame that in yet, then I need to fish out a door from somewhere..........

I'm really hoping that I will end up with predator proof overkill, at least on my coop. The run will probably have it's challenges.

 

[tenderkat]

What about putting a layer of 2x4 wire on the floor of the run, then building up the ground a foot? Will this help keep something from digging in? Of course, I have no idea how much 6 chickens will pack down the ground, but I'm sure they can do a dandy job at this. I plan on filling in my run with a combination of regular dirt, roadbase, sand, and wood chips. My run will be approximately 15x5.