Patio blocks vs. buried hardware cloth for perimeter

[New2Peeps]

My question is this:

I know buried hardware cloth works to keep out predators. And I see that some people just lay the hardware cloth on top the ground and then use patio blocks on top as a deterrent.

I want to know if I sink the base of my pen into the ground about 3 inches (the treated boards are 1 x6 so this would leave a 3 inch height above ground) and then butt 12 to 14 inch patio pavers right up next to the base of the pen sinking them level with the ground----is there any need for additional wire underneath the pavers? I have read that animals will dig next to the base of the pen--and that will have the patio blocks butted up next to the base. They surely won't dig out the pavers will they?

Anyway---has anyone tried just the pavers or maybe a 12 inch collar of poured concrete on the outside of the base of the pen?

 

[bluey]

Patio block is exactly the route I went. Burying hardware cloth sounded like too much of a pain in the gluteus maximus, so I set my coop on top of patio blocks. Four months later, so far so good. I have documented raccoons by the coop with my Moultrie camera but they haven't even attempted to dig at the block thus far.

You might also want a more experienced person to ring in on this topic, but it's hard for me to believe that any animal will be able to breach a 200+lb coop sitting up on patio block. Here is a picture of my small coop setup. There is no run because my few birds free range.

 

[LynneP]

The big thing is securing any seams. If your coop is lifted, is there a predator barrier at the base? Or will you fasten your hardware cloth somehow to the blocks? Keep in mind that rats and other predators like raccoons can chew through wood.

 

[New2Peeps]

I am going to sit the actual coop on bricks or blocks, but what I was questioning was the necessity of having both hardware cloth and patio blocks as a barrier against digging into the run. Thanks for answers and photos

Cute little coop! I am going to post a whole "My Page" when I get mine done as I started at the end of May and am still working on it!!!!

So--anybody use only patio blocks for the run perimeter??

 

[dixygirl]

I use field stones and poured cement around the edge of one cage and it has worked for nearly two years. I am burying the wire in poured cement powder i will moisten with a hose for the pen i am working on now. I actually think it is better than a wire. If the wire is glued in cement that is hard as a rock and goes out about a foot it should be quite ok. I would think about getting a $3 bag of cement and sprinkling it around your wire and blocks then lightly hosing it just to be very safe. It would fill any gaps and you wouldn't want the blocks to be pushed aside

Edited to add that if you decide to move it, a few swings of a mattock will crumble it all like it was never there.

 

[New2Peeps]

Thanks dixy--I actually made a dog run like that years ago and thought it might work okay. I think I am going to go with patio blocks around the edge butted right up to the run and see if that works out. The pen is close to the house, so hopefully will be safe.

 

[bluey]

New2

Please don't think that proximity to your house will give any added security. My raccoons come up on our back deck and porch all the time. They are fazed by almost nothing if they think they can score a meal!

 

[New2Peeps]

No, not meaning they would be less attractive to predators because they are close to the house----just that they would be right outside the kitchen window where we can keep an eye on things--and the dogs sleep in the kitchen and like to sound the alert whenever coons, possums and coyotes are about. I hope to post some pics when done