mesh IN the ground or ON the ground?

[Rorie]

I'm in the UK, so biggest issue is cats, badgers, foxes etc. I have seen lots of 'skirts' added to the chicken runs - just mesh pegged out onto of the ground. Is this all thats needed or do i need to dig down and burry a vertical wall?

Thanks

 

[bsmith712]

Running a wildlife control business, this is one thing I do for a living so to speak. First use a vinyl coated hardware cloth so it won't rust as fast. It should be buried otherwise animals will go under eventually. I bury mine 8-12 inches and also bend it into an L about the same length. Otherwise animals will burrow under it as well. They will dig at the edge so bringing it away from the coop edge won't allow that. They won't typically start digging that far from the edge. If you want a little less digging. You could bury it 3 or 4 inches and bring it out a good 18 inches.

 

[CMV]

I have used an apron for over 5 years and never had any issues. The apron is more by necessity than convenience, though. I live in NH where we grow...rocks. Lots and lots of rocks. Burying mesh would take heavy equipment, time, and space to pile the rocks that I would need to dig out.

What's your terrain like?

 

[mondotomhead]

I have used an apron for over 5 years and never had any issues. The apron is more by necessity than convenience, though. I live in NH where we grow...rocks. Lots and lots of rocks. Burying mesh would take heavy equipment, time, and space to pile the rocks that I would need to dig out.

What's your terrain like?

I use an apron too for the same reason above! When I wanted a small pond we needed to rent an excavator. We excavated rocks sized from boulders to sand, no dirt at all. There is no way a critter with only claws could dig under the chicken run in that ground.