Run security, please give me your thoughts about our design

[prepperchickens]

So my husband is about dead from building this coop the past month. We are working on the run now and we have buried the welded wire caging stuff a foot deep on each side. I thought we were going to pour concrete in the trench but for whatever reason he decided instead to take some baseball sized heavy quartz/geode rocks we have in the yard and put a layer if those at the bottom of the trench. He says anything that dogs that deep will have trouble when it reaches the rocks and if it digs beneath them they will fall down into the space anyway. It sounds plausible and I also think the buried wire should do the trick but what do you guys think? I'm also planning to lay boards flat on each outer wall because it keeps our dogs from digging under our fence since they want to dig right up at the fence and think they can't dig their way beneath it without starting up against it, they do to understand the idea of tunneling under the boards as well as the fence.
We are going to cover at least the bottom few feet with hardware cloth as well. The run will be fully enclosed with welded wire, top included, and half of the run will have a solid roof also.

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[prepperchickens]

 

[prepperchickens]

Bump

 

[chiques chicks]

Instead of boards around the outside, look at fencing about two feet wide layed flat on the ground attached to the run fencing. Cheaper, just as effective and it will disappear into the grass as the grass grows through it.

Other than that, it looks rather secure to me. Only other option is to add hot wire, but I personally don't think that is needed work what you have.

Far more secure than what I have!

 

[aart]

I think the rocks are a good idea, better than concrete which is very difficult to remove if needed, and the board might help too.

An 'apron' is the best way to prevent diggers IMO...which I think is what chiques is describing above...but a bit late for that.
Can lay right on top of ground or buried a couple inches to avoid mower blades.

Corner mesh is out of scale in the graphic below, but don't forget the corners.

 

[prepperchickens]

Thanks so much! I was thinking if trying to use the scrap fencing pieces somehow and that's perfect but my husband doesn't think they need to be affixed to the run itself he thinks burying it will make it hard enough to dislodge. I disagree, I am gonna staple or at least wire it in place. Ever since a feral cat got two of my little boys I am extremely paranoid and couldn't stomach moving them from the garage into an outdoor coop unless I knew it was pretty much impenetrable and my husband outdid himself knowing how neurotic and annoying I would be otherwise, lol. We ae adding hardware cloth but what kind of oredatir can fit through the holes in welded wire fencing besides like, ferrets and small weasels etc? They won't be in the run after dark so I'm mainly worried about diurnal predators. Half if the run will have a roof (long ways) and half will be welded wire.

 

[drumstick diva]

What about gate(s) in the run? Usually there are gaps where gate and latch meet - I'm guessing chain link gates- don't know what you are using. But on the subject latches are very important. Raccoons have opposable thumbs and can open probably any latch but combination locks. Two different types of latches are a good idea in case one is compromised. All ventilation and windows backed by hardware cloth.

You have given this project a lot of serious thought and it shows. I don't know what preds you have but, a motion activated floodlight might scare off two legged as well as four legged predators. In some areas the human element is just as diabolical - chicken haters, or those that covet what you possess. Game cams can be a good accessory and baby monitors in the coop to alert you of any odd noises. Any or all of this may be major overkill. But just wanted to add any options I could think of.

 

[aart]

Thanks so much! I was thinking if trying to use the scrap fencing pieces somehow and that's perfect but my husband doesn't think they need to be affixed to the run itself he thinks burying it will make it hard enough to dislodge. I disagree, I am gonna staple or at least wire it in place. Ever since a feral cat got two of my little boys I am extremely paranoid and couldn't stomach moving them from the garage into an outdoor coop unless I knew it was pretty much impenetrable and my husband outdid himself knowing how neurotic and annoying I would be otherwise, lol. We ae adding hardware cloth but what kind of oredatir can fit through the holes in welded wire fencing besides like, ferrets and small weasels etc? They won't be in the run after dark so I'm mainly worried about diurnal predators. Half if the run will have a roof (long ways) and half will be welded wire.

Agrees it should be wired to run wall.
With that 2x4 fencing you can cut it so there are wires sticking off the edge, chances are you have some scraps already like that, and use those to wrap around the wall mesh.

 

[Bryant Redhawk]

Not many critters can squeeze through 2 x4 fencing but all of the predators can reach through it. 1/2 " hardware cloth prevents most everything from getting in or reaching through. (Raccoons are famous for reaching into a coop and killing a bird just to kill it).

Your Hubby did an outstanding job on that coop and run so far.
I would definitely fasten the apron to the bottom rim of the coop, critters are notorious for thinking clearly on how to get to that tasty chicken dinner. You have to make it so hard the effort isn't worth the reward.

 

[prepperchickens]

What about gate(s)  in the run?  Usually there are gaps where gate and latch meet -  I'm guessing chain link gates- don't know what you are using.  But on the subject  latches are very important.  Raccoons have opposable thumbs and can open probably any latch but combination locks.  Two different types of latches  are a good idea in case one is compromised. All ventilation and windows backed by hardware cloth.

You have given this project a lot of serious thought and it shows. I don't know what preds you have but, a motion activated floodlight  might scare off two legged as well as four legged predators.  In some areas the human element  is just as diabolical  - chicken haters, or those that covet what you possess.  Game cams can be a good accessory  and  baby monitors in the coop to alert you of any odd noises.   Any or all of this may be major overkill. But just wanted to add  any options  I could think of.

Yes I am already worrying about people, not to mention clever coons, we are padlocking the coopat night and most likely the run will have a padlock also. He's still gotta build the door. I have been on him about the baby monitor thing, we actually have a video monitor for our toddler but I think she still needs it and I know the noises my birds make when there is trouble so a regular baby monitor thing would work fine. As soon as we get the hardware cloth this weekend we are putting a piece of it over every opening. I'm glad he built the coop on stilts with no ledges or sills for anything to climb onto. Oh and we are using welded wire fencing. Thanks for all the advice !