Predator proof cage

[TheOddOneOut]

Thank you. I am going to put some smelly bait in there to see if anyone brakes through the next couple days and bury the wire tomorrow. Maybe add some mesh cloth as well. Wish me luck

Well, the birds won't be in it when you do that, right?

 

[Jeskka1819]

For the apron (don't know how far out you've run the wire) I would also use hardware cloth or welded wire, out at least 2' (if flat on surface), then pinned down with landscape staples. No rocks around the border... what that does is push the edge the predator would dig at further out, so if the rocks were 6" wide, instead of 24" of coverage, now it's 18" of coverage because the rocks take up 6".

Okay I think I’m understanding the pinning part are you saying bring the mess down towards the ground or just the bottom of the cage? The wires is stapled to the inside and I have about a foot coming out underneath I planned on doing something with or not likely bury. I may watch some videos for ideas as well. Thank you

 

[Jeskka1819]

Well, the birds won't be in it when you do that, right?

No lol they are in the larger run now. I have another 20 by 20 ft coop that was built with the house so they people went all out and cement in the border lining the bottom and everything is very sturd. The last hurricane we had didn’t even take it

 

[rosemarythyme]

Okay I think I’m understanding the pinning part are you saying bring the mess down towards the ground or just the bottom of the cage? The wires is stapled to the inside and I have about a foot coming out underneath I planned on doing something with or not likely bury. I may watch some videos for ideas as well. Thank you

Though some folks use chicken wire for aprons, I would rather use the same material as the fence - in one continuous piece, transition the wire mesh from the fence and bend out in an L shape, and across the ground. If 2' is too much, then at least 18".

Landscape staples are just long metal "staples" for use in securing items to the ground.

Post #14 through #18 here show a good example of a hardware cloth apron: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481100

 

[Jeskka1819]

Though some folks use chicken wire for aprons, I would rather use the same material as the fence - in one continuous piece, transition the wire mesh from the fence and bend out in an L shape, and across the ground. If 2' is too much, then at least 18".

Landscape staples are just long metal "staples" for use in securing items to the ground.

Post #14 through #18 here show a good example of a hardware cloth apron: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481100

Ahh okay I didn’t realize that is what the wire is called. I have that for the other one but I was cheap and bought the useless chicken wire. I think I might have a little laying around somewhere. Thanks