Ugh...how do I find the ditch digging fairy?...and a real question

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Quote:
So you just lay the wire on top of the ground, you don't need to dig down at all? I was thinking you had to dig down a few inches

 

[elmo]

Some people do dig a trench and bury the wire. To make this really work, though, I think you'd have to go down more than just a few inches. If a predator starts digging and hits the wire, they would just dig deeper, so you have to go down far enough to really make digging under the wire an awful job for the critter.

Others lay a wire apron or skirt flat on the surface of the ground. The idea is that when a predator comes and starts digging, they'll begin to dig right at the edge of the vertical fence, hit the wire apron, and give up. They won't think about backing up beyond the edge of the apron and start digging there (and even if they did, they'd have to dig a pretty long tunnel to get into the pen anyway).

 

[anniem]

I don't know what's worse...more digging, or filling in what I already dug!

I wouldn't have to dig down for the apron? I'd read of it but thought i'd have dig a bit for that, too.
So will my plan of adding the gravel/rock not be effective, is it really dig more or fill in and start over?

 

[KenCoesta]

I'm all for not creating more work and sometimes that requires massaging your plans a little.
If you've already got the ditch and the gravel, go ahead and fill it in, then add the apron.

As far as I can gather, you won't need to dig for the apron, it'll just lay on the ground.
If you wanted to, you could pin it down with those landscaping spikes - probably a good idea.
After time, it'll mush down into the dirt, grass will grow up thought it and you'll never know it's there.

Another guy suggested pulling up the sod a few feet back, laying the apron, then put the sod back over it.
I'm going try that method.

 

[pokeytolman]

Leave the Rock for drainage you and I need that that here in the PNW the apron thing I didnt do, I went way extreme and layed 1x1 welded wire underneath the whole darn thing . But I am in construction(electrician) and digging is sometimes part of the gig. A litlle advice for anyone doing construction Make yourself a reasonable goal for the day then try to meet it if you do great if not try harder the next day it is a lot less overwhelming that way. Good digging anniem

 

[mightieskeeper]

Digging is fun. Think of it, like when you were a kid. DIG to China!!!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

So you just lay the wire on top of the ground, you don't need to dig down at all? I was thinking you had to dig down a few inches

I just lay mine on top , and then cover with an inch or two of dirt or compost, and let the grass grow up through it.
Animals aren't smart enough to dig anywhere other than right next to the fence​

 

[anniem]

hmmmm....guess I should just go do another day of digging since I went this far, we're getting another good dose of rain so at least is as soft as going to get.
I probably should have just gone with the apron, my hesitations are that the ground isn't even so it wouldn't lay totally flat and i'd worry about kids messing with it until it's overgrown (or messing with something that I throw on top of it) or somehow finding a way to hurt themselves on it. And pulling back the "grass" wouldn't be any easier than digging down.
If there are major signs of digging then i'll probably have to add an apron. I'm kind of assuming that anything digging will freak the chickens out which will get the dog wound up and we'll be able to stop a real attack....but I don't really want to do my neighbors method of a new flock every other year b/c they are feeding the wildlife.

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[Gypsi]

Owing to the soggy mud with chicken waste that my run became in the last rain, I'm with ground level chickenwire, topped with gravel, landscape fabric, and sand. As soon as I get to it. Then no digging. Although the only predator who might dig his way in would be my dachshund and he would find himself at the pound the next day. But skirting outward under the grass sounds good. I was originally just going to go ground level, and come up OUTSIDE the wood on the run, Or inside it. (I have a 2x6 frame around the run.) So which would be better, claw foiling skirting run straight out all edges? Or attaching to the run. If I ever want to move it, I'm going to be in a bind anyway, my chicken house is going to weigh 500 pounds when I'm done building it.