how to stop digging predators?

[Deviant]

what is the best way to build a run so that predators will not dig and go under it? I want to build my run this week come up. I am almost done with my coop.

 

[Trefoil]

Bury hardware cloth 12- 18" around the perimeter of the run and coop.

 

[Ted n Ms]

One way is to go out about 18'' on the outside of the fence and bury some wire some some 5 or 6 '' deep. I also put a hot wire around the bottom and also around the top.

 

[Deviant]

so I should get hardware cloth that is 48 inches burying that about 12 to 18 inches and then that will leave 30 to 36 inches that I can come up the sides with. Sounds good thank you two

 

[FarmerRob]

Instead of hardware cloth I use 2" x 4" woven wire laid out flat on the ground and connected (wired) to the base of the coop and run fencing. I covered that wire with a little dirt, and when doggies or other diggers try tunneling they quickly run into a barrier that cannot deal with. I also have hot wire offsets at the base and at the top and some others in between with a nice hot charger, 6 joule output, to leave a strong impression on any curious sniffers or would-be climbers. Also have some outdoor flashing red Christmas tree lights strung on the corners of the coop.

If you use this approach, I would either use a 3-4' height roll of the woven wire. There is nothing wrong with hardware cloth, but it is much more expensive.

 

[Deviant]

Instead of hardware cloth I use 2" x 4" woven wire laid out flat on the ground and connected (wired) to the base of the coop and run fencing. I covered that wire with a little dirt, and when doggies or other diggers try tunneling they quickly run into a barrier that cannot deal with. I also have hot wire offsets at the base and at the top and some others in between with a nice hot charger, 6 joule output, to leave a strong impression on any curious sniffers or would-be climbers. Also have some outdoor flashing red Christmas tree lights strung on the corners of the coop.

If you use this approach, I would either use a 3-4' height roll of the woven wire. There is nothing wrong with hardware cloth, but it is much more expensive.

sounds good also I want to make my run about 6 feet tall so I can go into it if I had to. ok ok so I wait to go in and make some toys that they can play on lol

 

[Trefoil]

If you have weasels or snakes in your area, hardware cloth is the only thing that comes small enough to keep them out.

 

[Deviant]

In my area we have snakes, dogs, a little bear not a lot, coyote, and a lot of cats (not mine)

Would I do the whole run in hardware cloth? A 12x12 not counting the top will be about $200 plus the 4x4's to put them up. I need a hardware cloth coupon lol

 

[Trefoil]

Your idea of the 48" hardware cloth and after that other fencing would do it, or you could even use 36" hardware cloth. Either way I would run a hotwire . I don't put a hotwire at ground level because I also free range, but a hotwire somewhere before the hardware cloth ends should stop any climbing. I don't have bear. Shop around for the hardware cloth. Wayfair was cheapest for me. & free shipping.

 

[mohillbilly]

In my area we have snakes, dogs, a little bear not a lot, coyote, and a lot of cats (not mine)

Would I do the whole run in hardware cloth? A 12x12 not counting the top will be about $200 plus the 4x4's to put them up. I need a hardware cloth coupon lol

for everything but the bear hardware cloth and a hot wire works...for the bear only thing i know that works is a 30-06 or something equally as powerful.