Rat proofing - concrete? Depth?

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

What do you guys think? - how deep would I need to concrete the edge of my coop to deter rats/mice?

I keep plugging up holes but it is not working, they keeping finding a new way in! I don't leave food out, I use treadle feeders and the rats have been nibbling at the timber on the foot pedal!
I also use an electric zapper trap and caught a few but not lately, I think they worked out not to go in there now.

I have a broody sitting on eggs and worried she is not protected enough from rats. The coop floor is dirt but I have rocks all the way around.

So, concrete? - I dig a deep hole inside the coop around the edge and fill with concrete? How deep?
Or any other suggestions?

 

[rosemarythyme]

The rocks don't do anything because the rats will just tunnel under those few inches. Have you tried aproning with hardware cloth? https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

Since this is a known issue I'd go with a pretty wide apron, around 24".

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

The rocks don't do anything because the rats will just tunnel under those few inches. Have you tried aproning with hardware cloth? https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

Since this is a known issue I'd go with a pretty wide apron, around 24".

Thanks!
My coop is actually inside an enclosed wire cage run type area and I have hw cloth apron on outside of that, plus more rocks - but the other wire in run is old so has holes in it
.. coop is on the left in this pic, inside enclosed run area..

Outter 2 sides have hw cloth skirt ..so should I add it to the 2 other sides.. unless I somehow put it inside the coop?
I probably need to cover the whole timber half of the coop with wire too? Incase of little holes?

 

[rosemarythyme]

The rocks you have piled up on the run apron are shortening the effective width of the apron, by telling the rats (or anything else) to start digging at the base of the rock and not at base of the run. Do you know how wide the apron is on outside overall?

Any gaps/holes with the old wire fencing that are 1/2" or more can also be breeched by rodents.

This part:

Outter 2 sides have hw cloth skirt ..so should I add it to the 2 other sides.. unless I somehow put it inside the coop?

does this mean the run only has an apron on 2 sides? I used to only have part of my run aproned and we had rats coming in regularly. The apron needs to go all the way around the run perimeter plus cover the corners.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

The rocks you have piled up on the run apron are shortening the effective width of the apron, by telling the rats (or anything else) to start digging at the base of the rock and not at base of the run. Do you know how wide the apron is on outside overall?

Any gaps/holes with the old wire fencing that are 1/2" or more can also be breeched by rodents.

This part:

does this mean the run only has an apron on 2 sides? I used to only have part of my run aproned and we had rats coming in regularly. The apron needs to go all the way around the run perimeter plus cover the corners.

Run apron is alot wider then the rocks and deep too.. Run apron is around the whole run, just the coop hasn't got its own apron within the run.
..problem is the holes in old wire, that's how they are getting through.. I'd have to replace entire run so I was going to rat proof just the coop area to be more cost effective.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Run apron is alot wider then the rocks and deep too.. Run apron is around the whole run, just the coop hasn't got its own apron within the run.
..problem is the holes in old wire, that's how they are getting through.. I'd have to replace entire run so I was going to rat proof just the coop area to be more cost effective.

Ahh, ok. Yeah that's tough because it'd be best to not have wire laid down where the chickens might be digging around (for that reason, my coop, which is enclosed in the run, doesn't have wire aproned out, instead I tucked it under the coop which isn't effective against determined rodents).

Not sure if concreting an apron would work, but if you know how to pour concrete or can get it done cheaply, that might be the best option here. Not sure how far out or far down you'd need to go - as far as width I've found a rat tunnel under my apron 10" so at least that wide, if you're going wide instead of down. And you'll still need to cover up any gaps in the wood walls that are 1/2" or bigger with wire mesh to truly keep them out of the coop.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Ahh, ok. Yeah that's tough because it'd be best to not have wire laid down where the chickens might be digging around (for that reason, my coop, which is enclosed in the run, doesn't have wire aproned out, instead I tucked it under the coop which isn't effective against determined rodents).

Not sure if concreting an apron would work, but if you know how to pour concrete or can get it done cheaply, that might be the best option here. Not sure how far out or far down you'd need to go - as far as width I've found a rat tunnel under my apron 10" so at least that wide, if you're going wide instead of down. And you'll still need to cover up any gaps in the wood walls that are 1/2" or bigger with wire mesh to truly keep them out of the coop.

What if I used hw cloth instead of concrete and went down in the ground with it in the coop around the perimeter? Aswell as going up the walls with the hw cloth too. That way the chickens can't dig it up and hurt themselves.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What if I used hw cloth instead of concrete and went down in the ground with it in the coop around the perimeter? Aswell as going up the walls with the hw cloth too. That way the chickens can't dig it up and hurt themselves.

That could work, I forgot that's an option since I apron on surface. You're looking at trenching down at least 12" though, is that doable? I don't know how hard/rocky the ground is there. If not, going diagonal is also an option (like flared out 45 degrees from the wall) as that can be a little more shallow since the outward angle provides protection as well.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

That could work, I forgot that's an option since I apron on surface. You're looking at trenching down at least 12" though, is that doable? I don't know how hard/rocky the ground is there. If not, going diagonal is also an option (like flared out 45 degrees from the wall) as that can be a little more shallow since the outward angle provides protection as well.

Thanks for the advice! It is a little rocky but I can work with it and dig to at least 12" as you suggest and a little angle. Hopefully the extra wire netting will keep the rats from coming in. I'll get to work this weekend! Hopefully my broody on eggs won't be disturbed too much!

 

[perkolator]

Looking at the pics of your coop, you could add aprons, concrete, rocks, etc until your wallet runs dry, but all those mice have to do is climb up the wall and enter through the chicken wire walls, or through the gaps in the pallet slats you used -- all of which are gaping voids compared to the size of a mouse. Rodents can fit through anything it can get its skull through - so holes the size of a dime for mice.