So we have a barn, built by the previous owner of our new home. It's actually really well built, except for the electric wiring the owner damaged upon his exit. (it just so happens that we found his name tag for his AF blues in the garage, so we're guessing he was an airman that did not appreciate being foreclosed on) now, the property was empty for a little over 3 years, then was "flipped" and we purchased. The barn is a perfect place for our chickens, coming in a couple days. We built the coop, which is in one of the three giant stalls in the barn. And in the next six weeks we're building a giant outdoor run, which will be attached to the entire left side of the barn.
Here's the problem. The property was not fenced, so being empty for all that time means the animals were able to take over the yard and barn. We've fenced almost an acre behind us, as a backyard, and my two Bostons have taken care of the underground squirrels and the rabbits. The fence is a three rail with goat wire all the way around. The barn is inside the fence, but the animals have dug out so many holes into the barn that there's a breeze coming in...big holes. So my solution to this is to dig down, all the way around the barn, then attach goat wire. My question....took a long time to get here, I know...how far down should I dig? I was thinking two or three feet down, but I'm not sure how far down an animal digs. I'm pretty sure our biggest problem is going to be the rabbits. They are all over and I think there may be a family of cotton tails under the shed, which is attached to the far right of the barn. Like I said, my Bostons are great little hunters, and Waffle is an animal catching menace (almost made me cry when he nabbed a squirrel at the in-laws) but I want the barn completely protected. So any ideas?
A little side note- our home is in a "community" of 2.5 acre lots. Most of the homes are horse
properties, wide open. Mine is going to have three sections. Our backyard, one rectangle directly behind the chicken house which will have fruit trees, and a third section that is at the very back and has no plan as of yet.
Here's the problem. The property was not fenced, so being empty for all that time means the animals were able to take over the yard and barn. We've fenced almost an acre behind us, as a backyard, and my two Bostons have taken care of the underground squirrels and the rabbits. The fence is a three rail with goat wire all the way around. The barn is inside the fence, but the animals have dug out so many holes into the barn that there's a breeze coming in...big holes. So my solution to this is to dig down, all the way around the barn, then attach goat wire. My question....took a long time to get here, I know...how far down should I dig? I was thinking two or three feet down, but I'm not sure how far down an animal digs. I'm pretty sure our biggest problem is going to be the rabbits. They are all over and I think there may be a family of cotton tails under the shed, which is attached to the far right of the barn. Like I said, my Bostons are great little hunters, and Waffle is an animal catching menace (almost made me cry when he nabbed a squirrel at the in-laws) but I want the barn completely protected. So any ideas?
A little side note- our home is in a "community" of 2.5 acre lots. Most of the homes are horse
properties, wide open. Mine is going to have three sections. Our backyard, one rectangle directly behind the chicken house which will have fruit trees, and a third section that is at the very back and has no plan as of yet.
