Outside Skirting … is this ok?

[Rick&Chris]

It is generally recommended that 1/2" hardware cloth be used for the apron as it keeps out most predators, big and small. A rat or weasel could get through that no problem. And, yes, cover it with gravel, dirt, or mulch.

Thank you. Do you think that rats or weasels could get through if covered by rocks?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It is safe to leave your pop door open 24/7? No predators can get to it? That's wild!

 

[Rick&Chris]

It is safe to leave your pop door open 24/7? No predators can get to it? That's wild!

We have not had anything dig to get under the coop (yet) which is why I am shoring up the exterior. I'd like to get an automatic door ... someday!!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It is safe to leave your pop door open 24/7? No predators can get to it? That's wild!

Although I'm a fine one be even the least bit critical, we leave the man door to our coop open fron daylight to nearly dark, anything could just walk right in. We've had a possum in there a couple of times but it seemed more interested in the chicken feed than the chickens. He won't be coming back, though.

 

[Rick&Chris]

Although I'm a fine one be even the least bit critical, we leave the man door to our coop open fron daylight to nearly dark, anything could just walk right in. We've had a possum in there a couple of times but it seemed more interested in the chicken feed than the chickens. He won't be coming back, though.

I close up the man door every night (if I let them out of the enclosed run during the day). When the man door is closed, the inside is secure, unless something digs under, which is what started this thread

My setup (old pic, we added trees for shade):

 

[StinkyAcres]

Thank you. Do you think that rats or weasels could get through if covered by rocks?

I'm sure they could if they really wanted to. Remember the rocks need to be small enough to dig through or the apron will not work as intended.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My goofy hens have dust-bathed close to the framework of their run, leaving gaps underneath. We never installed an apron, as we got the chickens long before we ever heard of BYC. I suppose we'll install one retroactively but meanwhile the coop is still secure even though the run is not. *Always learning!*

 

[SandyRiverChick]

That is not my photo, I was just using it to show what 'could be' after I added the rocks. The first two are of my current wire, the last 2 are examples/ideas for covering the wire.

My run is attached to my coop. I leave the pop door open most of the time (unless it is brutally cold). Picture of my set up attached.

View attachment 3810484

And this is what I had in mind for the rocks covering the wire:

View attachment 3810485

OH! Sorry I shouldn't have done a speed-read. I get it. They look secure to me! So basically predators have to make it through your free range fencing AND THEN also your run? That's really good. I think you're plenty day time predator proof and if you locked them up at night, you'd certainly meet my criteria.

 

[FunClucks]

Thank you! We had it covered in dirt and mulch (nothing will grow, especially grass). So, are you recommending keeping the current wire and covering with some dirt and smaller stone?

Yes. Dirt and small gravel or mulch would do fine. I use mulch because it has more give to it than stone, and when you step on it, the weight spreads out more on the wire, a lot less point loads, but I'm probably way overthinking it. Just make your wire "invisible" to predators, and encourage them to come right up to the coop wall so they'll get stopped by the wire when they dig.

 

[FunClucks]

Thank you. Do you think that rats or weasels could get through if covered by rocks?

Probably, depends on size and depth of rocks. They can be tenacious. For rats, some folks will go so far as to make a concrete floor to their coop, because rats have gotten through everything else they tried.