Install a buried or surface-laid wire apron around the perimeter

Prevent digging predators by installing an L-shaped hardware cloth apron extending 12–18 inches outward from the base of the run fence. Foxes, coyotes, dogs, and raccoons all dig under fencing to reach ducks. The apron can be buried 4–6 inches deep or simply laid on the ground surface and covered with soil or gravel — the surface-lay method works equally well and is far easier to install.

Why It Works

Digging predators instinctively start at the fence line and dig straight down. When they hit the horizontal apron, they do not think to back up and dig further out. A surface-laid apron covered with a thin layer of soil becomes anchored by grass roots within a few weeks, creating a permanent barrier. This method is particularly important for duck runs because ducks sleep on the ground and cannot escape upward to roosts like chickens.

Tips

• Use the same 1/2-inch hardware cloth as the rest of the run for consistency
• Extend the apron at least 12 inches outward — 18 inches in areas with coyotes
• Secure the apron to the fence base with hog rings or J-clips and pin to the ground with landscape staples
• For surface-laid aprons, cover with 1–2 inches of soil and scatter grass seed for fastest anchoring