trench vs. apron

[Kittymomma]

An apron works great, just use landscape staples to secure it until time/grass covers it over. I put one in years ago aroung a 7x13 dog run that we used to use for a rabbit play area and is now used for broody hens and have never had a problem. Because it was originaly used for the rabbits the apron goes for 18" inside the enclosure as well as outside and I never had a rabbit dig out or a pred. dig in. After about 3 months the grass grew up around the outside and completly covered the apron. The inside portion took a bit longer because the bunnies ate all the grass, but was covered by dirt within 6 months.

 

[Puresilk]

What I did under my first run, and I am doing under my new coop AND run (coop doesnt have a floor, going with 6 inches of sand) is you can pick up a 5' x 20' Horse Panel at most any farm store for $18 to $20. I have that laid under my run, with 2.5 feet sticking outside the run, and 2.5 feet sticking inside the run, all the way around it. What I am gonna do with my new coop/fun is have the horse panels laid under them, BUT beneach the horse panels, right beneath the walls, between bottom of wall and ground is lay some 2 foot chicken wire down, and the horse panels will keep them flat to the ground, then I toss a little dirt, leaves, etc....on them to keep from tripping on them. In my existing run those horse panels have kept 2 unknown critters from digging in, as the holes are 6 inches by 8 inches, and the wire the panels are made of are almost as big around as a pencil, galvanized. IMO the way to go...plus, if you start digging here and get more than 3 to 4 inches down, you hit solid clay. A trench isnt an option, lol....

p.s. bolt cutters are very handy if you want to cut the panels....

this is what the panels look like, heres a stack of them

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Be careful about that. Some critters are too big to fit through a 6x8 hole, but others (such as foxes, skunks, and yer smaller-gauge dogs) are decidedly not and will get in despite those panels. Something smaller mesh, like 2x4, would really be a lot safer.

JMHO,

Pat

 

[Puresilk]

Quote:
Be careful about that. Some critters are too big to fit through a 6x8 hole, but others (such as foxes, skunks, and yer smaller-gauge dogs) are decidedly not and will get in despite those panels. Something smaller mesh, like 2x4, would really be a lot safer.

JMHO,

Pat

You are saying that they can dig down, through a hole the panel, then tunnel under the panel til they are inside the run, and then dig back up? I also have my coops next to my two hounds and have a watch dog runnin loose. I put my birds in a coop every evening at dusk, and during the daytime I seriously dont see anythnign having the time to dig under that, through the clay that is under everything here before my dog could get there, as any critter that doesnt belong will cause my hounds to blow up, and when they do our watch dog will come runnin (lab/pit) he can handle most anything that comes around....digging around here is VERY difficult because like I said in prior post, 3 inches or so down you hit solid clay and I have yet see anything dig through solid clay.

 

[Puresilk]

You are saying something could dig down and get in through those panels? BUT, I have wondered that myself, my next step is gonna be putting 2' chicken wire all around the pen, with 1 1/2 feet sticking outside, and 6 inches inside, UNDER the big panels, which will hold the chicken wire in place. That should eliminate anything from getting in, be it small turbo charged skunk or anything else....Incidentally, the dog pictured in this picture is 18lbs. I have had him penned up with these same panels, he cant fit through the holes when they are stacked upright. I dont htink he would have a chance of digging through one and then squeezing through.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Yes.

If all you're interested in protecting against is large dogs and coyotes, though, what you have should be fine.


Pat

 

[Puresilk]

A dog small enough to get through those panel holes wouldnt be strong enough to dig through the clay that is a few inches underground...and I am gonna run chicken wire inside and out on the ground, under the panels, 1 foot in and 1 foot out to keep ANYTHING from digging in...

 

[greathorse]

i agree

 

[chickM4st3r(AL)]

i use the 12inch trench apron are easily dug under by foxes and rodents