Last minute advice for coop/run?

[JanetRN1]

"We had a little mishap with the hardware cloth, so we have to re-do the sides. I got a pallet of bricks to go around the perimeter as well."

If your are doing an external apron (recommended!) do NOT cover it with bricks, can cause critters to back up or stop and dig under. Just let grass or ? overgrow.

I didn’t realize that! I do have an apron extending about 18” around the outside of the frame. I didn’t bury it, but secured it with u stakes. I was going to put sand over it and then the bricks on top of that.
Without the bricks, grass will eventually grow through it.
So I can skip the brick perimeter? That saves some work for sure

 

[Ted Brown]

...
So I can skip the brick perimeter? That saves some work for sure

Skip both sand & brick if ground is reasonably level and fertile. Wildflowers can be nice...

 

[aart]

Without the bricks, grass will eventually grow through it.

You want the grass to grow thru it.
Hopefully the mesh is flat enough not to catch a mower blade or tear up a trimmer string.

 

[JanetRN1]

Skip both sand & brick if ground is reasonable level and fertile. Wildflowers can be nice...

Yes! Great idea! And I happen to have seeds! Thanks!

 

[JanetRN1]

You want the grass to grow thru it.
Hopefully the mesh is flat enough not to catch a mower blade or tear up a trimmer string.

Good point. It’s pretty level now because I flattened out the lumpy parts with U stakes. I have awhile before anything grows long enough to mow and hopefully we’ll have the permanent coop built by then

 

[paintedChix]

I googled and got these pics...






Edit - i googled tonight. Search terms must be off. Not getting anything... I thought I'd had more in my Pinterest, but I do not...

 

[Chirpy]

If you covered this - sorry I missed it: I've had dogs dig under laid down wire. We attached wire (hardware cloth or 1" chicken wire) to the fence (about 15" high up the side) and buried the lower 18" or so underground. We just dug a trench along the outside fence line and buried it - I bent an "L" shape (facing out) at the bottom of the buried fence so if something was digging down - they would hit the "L" part and stop digging. In 20 years we've never had anything get through it.

Also - because the gate is usually the 'weakest' link - as far as keeping predators out. Dug a deep, wide trench directly under the gate and poured cement.