Digging in a fence skirt seems dumb!

[bryan99705]

If you have a critter proof fence and are having problems with dogs or fox trying to dig under, why would you dig in the skirt? It doesn't make sense to loosen the dirt for them by digging the wire....... seems you're just loosening the packed ground for them. Why would you go to all that sweat and work when a couple foot of wire flat, maybe with a few stakes to hold it down, would be so much easier and more effective? It just doesn't make sense.

Can someone explain this line of thinking?

 

[7L Farm]

Here's how I did mine. I think you've seen it.

 

[Heathero617]

I dug mine in nearly 6 inches into the groundwe made a narrow trench then covered back over, tamped it down firmly then laid bricks on both the interior and exterior of the pen all the way around. Then covered it with more dirt and now sand. I think at that point i'd almost be brave enough to put my rabbits in there ....i said almost as they are determined little wabbits. I thought about running electric fence along what is burried, but honestly i've just gotten my hands on nearly a full load of gravel someone ordered but doesnt need and i'm going to make yet another layer of protection around the ground of the pen.

 

[bryan99705]

Quote:
Sorry to correct you but didn't you just loose birds on frizzleman74's thread. Maybe you need to rethink your digger defense.

 

[Heathero617]

Quote:
Sorry to correct you but didn't you just loose birds on frizzleman74's thread. Maybe you need to rethink your digger defense.

Sorry, by my atacker didn't dig. >shrugs< I thought the question was bout digging in the skirting, not if a preditor has ever gotten in another way. My "digger" defense is just fine thank you....how rude

 

[easttxchick]

Quote:
Because that's the way WE chose to do it. It's worked-we haven't had a predator dig in around our coop/run in 2 years.
Kinda seems to me to be "to each his own". My DH just wasn't going to half... the job. You can figure it out.
We buried metal sheeting 2 feet in the ground all the way around. Easy? No. Effective? Yeah, it is.

 

[bryan99705]

With about a 1/2 acre fenced 6' tall and having lost several birds to fox during it's construction (shot 3) it seems like it would have been a lot of extra work. Since the skirt was laid, I've had it tested many times (can see the dig marks all along the fence) and haven't lost a bird to fox nor have I had to kill a fox since. Now if it were that easy for stopping ravens, Id be set!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Can someone explain this line of thinking?

People do lots of things without really thinking about them.

We buried metal sheeting 2 feet in the ground all the way around. Easy? No. Effective? Yeah, it is.

The point is it's no more effective to do all the digging than it is to simply lay wire flat on the ground.

But if you just enjoy moving dirt, no one will stop you​

 

[fishman65]

burying the skirt just makes it look nicer...plus digger can't just go to end of skirt and put nose down and lift up skirt, they would have to dig up the entire skirt to get under it. Your coop your rules do what ever you feel comfortable with.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

burying the skirt just makes it look nicer...plus digger can't just go to end of skirt and put nose down and lift up skirt,

A half- inch of dirt on top of the wire looks exactly like 2 ft of dirt on top of the wire.

By not disturbing the grass already growing, you can have roots anchoring the skirt in a very short period of time

Once a little grass grows up through it, you can barely pull it up with a tractor. (I've actually had to use a tractor to pull some up)

No non-human predator can reason well enough to try "lifting the skirt"​