Bury wire or install an apron around the run perimeter

Prevent digging predators by installing a hardware cloth apron around the entire perimeter of your run and coop. Foxes, dogs, coyotes, and raccoons all dig under fencing to reach chickens. An L-shaped apron extending 12–18 inches outward from the base of the fence stops them without requiring deep trenching.

Why It Works

Digging predators start at the fence line and dig downward. When they hit the horizontal apron, they do not think to back up and dig further out. A surface-laid apron covered with soil or gravel works just as well as buried wire and is much easier to install. Grass grows through the mesh within a few weeks, anchoring it in place.

Tips

• Use the same 1/2-inch hardware cloth as the rest of the run
• Extend the apron at least 12 inches outward — 18 inches is better for coyote-prone areas
• Secure the apron to the fence base with hog rings or J-clips
• Pin the apron to the ground with landscape staples until vegetation anchors it