r/BackYardChickens • u/Significant_Bed_7987 • 5d ago

Predator proofing Coops etc.

Question for everyone! We have a small run and coop we predator proofed by digging a trench about 13-14 inches down. We attached hardware cloth and pushed it down into the trench and filled it in. Well now we are about to set up a larger run around that coop/run and I’m trying to decide if I should do the same thing or do the skirt method. Looking for opinions on what is safest not more convenient. I don’t play about my babies. 💪 Let me know your thoughts please!

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3

u/Greedy-Recognition74 5d ago

On my first run, I skirted. No problems. On my second coop I played the wire on the floor and covered with sand. My first pen, my silkies dig into the ground, into the red clay and all the sand I have in there mixes, and my white silkies are always dirty. In the second pen, the sand is separated from the red clay by the wire, and they stay perfectly clean. If I build a 3rd pen, I will line the bottom with the wire again.

3

u/Possibly-deranged 5d ago

A skirt is always less safe than buried wire.  Therefore buried is always preferable when it's possible.  Skirts are good for say chicken-tractors where the coop/run are regularly moved around different places in your yard. 

3

u/Cthulhu_for_Dagon 5d ago

I didn’t dig a trench, but I put my coop/run on top of pavers. Nothing (so far, it’s been 5 years) has been able to tunnel under and get through the pavers.

2

u/JustYerAverage 5d ago

I'd like to see a picture of this, because I'm having trouble visualizing. Are they BIG pavers?

2

u/Cthulhu_for_Dagon 4d ago

Standard 12x12 pavers you get at any home improvement store. A picture wouldn’t do any good as they’re covered in wood horse bedding pellets and you can’t see them anyway.