Dirt Floor Horse Stall- How to Predator Proof?

[SeeRoe]

I've tried to search as best as I could but could not find a great answer, please let me know if another thread has addressed this already!

I have a dirt floor horse stall that will soon house chickens. It's 10'x7' with a dirt floor. I'm planned to use 1/2" hardware cloth on any openings in the door/wall, however, my concern is the floor. I know I have some burrowing critters since there are holes in the floor that I've been backfilling with dirt as I see them.

What do you think is the most cost effective option to secure my hens? Will stall mats cut to size be enough? Install a plywood floor (if so, what joist spacing and size?)? Any tips are appreciated!

 

[nuthatched]

I'd dig it up a bit, lay a layer of hardware cloth or stucco mesh down, secure it, bury it and but your bedding down.

 

[SeeRoe]

I'd dig it up a bit, lay a layer of hardware cloth or stucco mesh down, secure it, bury it and but your bedding down.

this sounds easy enough, how far down are you thinking? Do you think 4" or so would be enough and refill back with the fine grain dirt on the floor? I see 4 foot wide pieces of hardware cloth are common, I could overlap it 6" or so for my barn. What would you recommend to "join" the two sections together? Just wrap some metal wire?

 

[nuthatched]

this sounds easy enough, how far down are you thinking? Do you think 4" or so would be enough and refill back with the fine grain dirt on the floor? I see 4 foot wide pieces of hardware cloth are common, I could overlap it 6" or so for my barn. What would you recommend to "join" the two sections together? Just wrap some metal wire?

Wiring it together will be fine. I'd say 4 inches would be deep enough to help the hens from reach it.