Lost a couple birds to something digging in, and I’m done. What’s the most cost-effective way to build a run that actually keeps predators out — including the ones that dig?
Oh, losing birds to a digger is the worst — you go out in the morning and your gut just drops. Let’s get that run buttoned up for good.
The single biggest bang-for-your-buck upgrade is an apron of hardware cloth laid flat on the ground around the perimeter. Instead of burying a skirt straight down (which is expensive and back-breaking), you lay 12–18 inches of 1/2" hardware cloth horizontally outward from the base of the run, then cover it with dirt, gravel, or sod. When a predator tries to dig at the wall, it hits wire almost immediately and gives up. Works on fox, coyote, raccoon, skunk — the whole rogues’ gallery.
A few other things that make a real difference without blowing your budget:
- 1/2" hardware cloth, not chicken wire. Chicken wire keeps chickens in; it doesn’t keep determined teeth and claws out. Hardware cloth is pricier per roll but it’s the one place to spend the money.
- Bury or pin those apron edges well. Tent stakes every foot or so, then let grass grow through it. You’ll barely see it after a season.
- Secure the top too. Aerial predators are real. A simple roof of the same hardware cloth, or even deer netting stretched tight, closes that vulnerability cheaply.
- Check every connection point. Gates, corners, and where the run meets the coop are where gaps sneak in. Add extra staples and cable ties wherever you see any give.
For materials, check Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for partial rolls of hardware cloth — people sell them cheap after a project. Feed stores sometimes have sale bins too.
Once you’ve got the run sorted, the Homestead Paradise app (included with your membership) is handy for logging coop notes and flagging what worked — some folks use it to track when they last did a perimeter check.
What does your current setup look like — wood frame, t-posts, existing fencing? That might help me give you more specific tips.