Predator Proofing Rural Mass- trench vs. skirt/flare

[SweetAdelaide]

We are finalizing our coop plans and I’m unsure if it’s better to trench down the hardware cloth vs. skirt the run with it, do both, or equally work.

Also, seems most use 1/2” hardware cloth, but is there a disadvantage to 1/4” to keep mice out?

Thanks!

 

[MVchickens]

1/2" is easier to work with and cheaper. I have used it for my whole run (top, bottom and walls) and have had no mice. If you only plan on using it to skirt the run then mice can still climb in anyway. As far as skirting vs trenching I am no help!

 

[Chickenandcomics]

I dug down and made a trench. i went down a foot and then went a foot out. We have foxes and other pests out here in the suburbs (Massachusetts as well)

 

[rosemarythyme]

I think either digging it down or skirting would both work. If your main concern is mice, then 1/4" would be ideal for mice as a small enough mouse could possibly fit through 1/2".

 

[CatsandCrops]

We trenched ours in about 18 inches due to foxes, racoons, groundhogs and basically every other animal ever in our area. We rented a "groundhog" from Home Depot and it made life SO EASY. I would say it was 100% worth the rental costs to save us days of digging since our run is large.

 

[aart]

Good examples of anti-dig apron installation.
If rodents are prolific, burying the apron ~12" would be good.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wire-around-coop.1110498/#post-17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208