trench vs. apron

[omelet du fromage]

What is the best way to predator-proof the run, digging a 12 inch trench with buried wire, or a 2 foot extended apron?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I went with the apron. In my opinion, the apron is just as effective if not more so, a whole lot easier to install, and it is easier to tell when it is rusted away. If your soil is such that it is easy for you to dig a trench 1 foot deep, it is probably pretty easy for a predator to dig 13" deep.

Just my opinion. Both methods help.

 

[prncssprplfrog]

Okay, I'm redoing my shoddily made coop & run in the next few weeks: could you all explain the difference... I understand the trench- extending the wire down a foot below ground.

 

[rubyrogue]

An apron is where the wire extends out from the bottom of the run but on top of the ground. You cover it with dirt grass clippings rocks ect and weigh it down with some big rocks or logs. Instead of digging down to bury the wire.

 

[Doopy]

I may be wrong and if so I hope someone will jump in here and straighten both of us out. There are two concepts to adding dig-resistant fencing . . . 1) to install the fencing vertically (like most fences are installed) but sticking the fencing down into the ground about a foot. This way a predator that wants to dig under the fence will have to dig deeper than one foot to get under it 2) to lay a strip of fencing material on the ground (or just under the ground about 2 or 3 inches) like a carpet runner all along the bottom of the fence row.

I prefer option #2 because it is soooooo much easier to install and in my opinion is more effective. The strip of fencing can be about 18 to 24 inches wide with only a few inches of it inside the fenced area and the remainder outside the fence. A critter may try to dig under the fence but will hurt it's toes on the flat fencing runner and they are typically not smart enough to back up 2 ft. and try again. Also in my opinion, it is not necessary to bury the fencing runner more than an inch or two. Grass (or weeds) will grow up through the fencing material and you can mow right over it.

I hope this helps.

 

[patandchickens]

IMO the only advantage there ever is to trenching it in is if you are trying to stop rats (which means you need to go down AT LEAST 2', really more is a lot safer, and use 1/2" hardwarecloth and hope it doesn't rust thru til you've moved away, and ensure NO gaps ANYWHERE, and then rats will probably find somewhere aboveground to sneak in anyhow).

For any other purpose, a generous apron is WAY easier and just as effective. 2' is safe for most purposes; you might want to go wider if you have a history of really "professional" dogs/coyotes/foxes digging under fences.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Doubletap]

This is just the advise I needed.

 

[omelet du fromage]

Great! That's the response I was hoping to get. I would do the trench if you all said it was better at keeping the killers out. However, I would much rather lay the apron and save my back from all the digging. It's not too often in life that the easier way is better!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Photos or drawings help some people understand better. I think this explains it fairly well.

Alberta Aprons
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex916

 

[CoyoteMagic]

skirt. Cover with mulch, and dirt. Plant flowers or stuff the chickens will eat because they will eat it!! roots grow through the skirt keeping it in place even better.