To floor wire or not......

[Everlina Chooks]

I have 6 baby chicks that are two weeks old. We got five different varieties but all I can remember is the Rhode Island Red. We have fallen in love already! My coop arrives on Tuesday so today I will be prepping the yard. Any thoughts or suggestions? I am considering laying down a wire mat so varmints can't dig under but not sure that it is absolutely nessasary. The farmer from the store where I bought the coop seems to think it is unnessasary.

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, Everlina Chooks, and

! Pleased you joined us! It all depends on the predators in your area. There are burrowing critters - a skunk will dig in, rats, even dogs. But if you are around and don't have to leave your birds for extended periods, you can probably get away without wire. A lot of folks, rather than laying wire down flat in the bottom, will dig a narrow trench around the perimeter and put a line of hardware cloth in the trench and then bury it. This makes it that much harder for burrowing vermin. You can get a lot more suggestions on this in the Predators & Pests forum below. Good luck to you!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/13/predators-and-pests

 

[CackleSpackle]

We're just a few miles from your area, and the main predator to worry about is raccoons. It might be overkill, but I put 2 rows of old street paver bricks in a trench, and covered those with 18 inches of hardware cloth extending around the outside. Although it's unlikely one would dig under, I didn't want to take the chance because raccoons are surprisingly good at figuring out how to open things like coolers, jars, and coops. They can operate door latches, and are strong enough to lift heavy objects. (They once stole sausage and eggs from Mrs CackleSpackle's latched cooler with the cast iron cookware sitting on top of it... and didn't make any noise doing it!).
Recently, coyotes have moved into the area, but they tend to stay away from populated areas.
If you have them out during the day, keep an eye out for eagles and hawks. Hawks can move so fast that by the time you see it, it could be too late.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!

Glad you joined us!!

 

[sane cat lady]

why risk it i say absolutely lay down hardware cloth

 

[drumstick diva]

topping off a run with chicken wire or even deer fencing will help prevent hawks from swooping down.

 

[CarolynF]

You didn't say specifically, but I'm assuming you mean a wire mat under the pen, not under the coop (hen house), is that right?
I would suggest installing the wire as an apron around the perimeter rather than below the run. That means you would either continue the wire down the side of the pen, bend it at ground level and continue out 18"-24" OR you would attach an 18"-24" strip of wire fencing to the bottom of the pen and lay it on the ground around the pen. You can cover it with dirt or grass if you like, but this will deter animals that will try to dig down and into the pen. There must not be a gap between the side of the pen and the beginning of the apron.

Also.... make sure the bottom 2 - 3 feet of the pen is covered with half inch hardware cloth not chicken wire. Anything with a hole bigger than a half inch and the racoons can reach inside and grab your chickens and rip them to shreds. The wire needs to go up high enough that it's taller than the chicken. Hungry racoons are incredibly tenacious and clever.

Enjoy your new chickens, they're a total hoot! And welcome to BYC!