WuZhou KingDa Mesh

Hardware cloth to bury or skirt

Q:

We are getting our coop next week and i plan to work on the foundation  this weekend. I think we have decided to put the coop next to the house  (as opposed to next to the fence) to deter predators from digging under  our 6ft high wooden fence. You folks have convinced me to use hardware  cloth around the perimeter (thank you!). Should i bury it 4" or so under  the soil surface or skirt it out from the base? Is there an advantage  of one over the other?

Fyi, although we are in Central Austin, we live on a creek/greenbelt. We  have seen foxes, possums, racoons etc on the prowl around here for  years.

Thanks for the help!

A:

I would definitly skirt it.   Chickens like to dig too and sometimes  remove soil around the inside edge making it easy for a preditor.   The  skirt that is under the grass level that extends at least 18" out from  the wire will stop them.    They dig down through the grass and hit the  fence.  Then they will go to another spot and do the same.  I had a fox  dig down in about 6 places before he gave up and left. Good luck with  your chickens.