How to Keep Predators from Digging Under Your Chicken Coop
Few things are more heartbreaking for backyard chicken keepers than finding a trail of feathers and an empty coop. Predators like raccoons, foxes, coyotes, dogs, and even rats often dig underneath chicken coops to gain access at night. If you want to raise poultry safely, you must protect the underside of your setup just as carefully as the walls and roof.
This guide walks you through the best ways to keep predators from digging under your chicken coop. From hardware cloth trenches to DIY concrete footings, these strategies are designed to keep your flock safe and your mind at ease.
Why Predators Target the Base of Your Coop
Most chicken coop break-ins happen at night and often begin from below. Predators naturally dig to get under fences or enclosures, especially if the floor isn’t reinforced or if the coop is placed directly on soil.
Common predators that dig include:
- Foxes
- Coyotes
- Raccoons
- Opossums
- Dogs
- Weasels
- Rats
These animals can easily dig 6–12 inches or more to reach your birds. If you’re not securing the coop floor or perimeter, you’re leaving a welcome mat for disaster.
How to Keep Predators from Digging Under Your Chicken Coop
The most effective way to stop predators from digging under your coop is by creating a buried barrier made of hardware cloth, concrete, or pavers.
Let’s explore the top strategies one by one.
1. Use a Hardware Cloth Skirt (Predator Apron)
A predator apron is a simple yet powerful solution.
What it is: A 12–24 inch wide strip of hardware cloth (½-inch galvanized wire mesh) laid flat on the ground, around the entire perimeter of the coop and run.
How it works: When predators try to dig, they encounter the metal barrier and give up because they can’t dig past it.
Installation Steps:
- Lay the hardware cloth flat around all sides of the coop/run, extending at least 12 inches out
- Secure with garden staples or U-shaped stakes
- Cover with dirt, mulch, gravel, or decorative stones to hide it and protect from weathering
Why it works: Most predators dig right at the fence line. They don’t back up and try further out, so the flat mesh tricks them into stopping.
2. Bury Hardware Cloth Vertically
If you’re building a new coop or run, burying hardware cloth down into the soil provides maximum security.
Instructions:
- Dig a trench at least 12 inches deep around the coop perimeter
- Attach ½-inch hardware cloth to the bottom edge of your wall/fence
- Extend it straight down into the trench, and backfill with dirt
This method works especially well in high-risk predator areas or if your soil type allows easy digging.
3. Concrete or Brick Foundation
For the most permanent and predator-proof solution, build your coop on a concrete slab or brick foundation.
This eliminates any digging possibilities and helps with drainage and cleaning as well.
Options include:
- Concrete slab: Ideal for large coops or fixed installations
- Concrete pavers: Easier DIY solution; lay flat and seal gaps
- Brick footings: Create a perimeter barrier to rest the coop on
Be sure to seal all edges and gaps where predators may squeeze in. Rats can get through holes as small as a quarter.
4. Elevate the Coop
Raising your chicken coop 18–24 inches off the ground prevents digging and deters many predators altogether.
Not only does this protect from digging, but it provides a shaded space for chickens to dust bathe and stay cool.
Support with strong legs or concrete blocks, and enclose the bottom if needed for extra protection.
5. Add Gravel or Crushed Stone
Digging through gravel is exhausting for predators, especially small ones like rats and weasels.
Line the perimeter trench with crushed stone or pea gravel along with buried hardware cloth for a two-layer defense.
Bonus: Add Motion-Activated Lights or Alarms
For added protection at night, set up:
- Motion-activated lights: Startles foxes, raccoons, and coyotes
- Ultrasonic deterrents: Emit sounds predators dislike
- Trail cameras: Help identify which predators are snooping around
These devices won’t stop a determined predator but work well as part of a layered defense system.
DIY Coop Building? Plan for Protection from Day One
If you’re starting from scratch or upgrading your coop, the Woodworking, DIY & Homesteading Plans Guide includes hundreds of predator-proof coop designs you can build yourself—even with basic tools.
- Coops with built-in foundation barriers
- Secure underground fencing options
- Run extensions with hardware cloth floors
- Solar lighting and automatic doors for safety
Why pay for overpriced kits when you can build a better, safer coop yourself?
What to Avoid When Protecting Your Coop
Even experienced chicken keepers make security mistakes that cost them their flock. Here’s what NOT to do:
- Using chicken wire instead of hardware cloth: Chicken wire keeps chickens in—it doesn’t keep predators out
- Placing the coop on bare ground: Without a buried barrier, you’re asking for trouble
- Forgetting corners and gate gaps: These are common weak points
- Skipping maintenance: Check fencing regularly for damage or digging attempts
Real-World Examples: Predator Prevention That Works
Case Study 1: Fox Trouble Solved
A suburban flock in Virginia lost 5 birds in one night. The owners installed a 24-inch-wide hardware cloth apron around the coop, buried under 2 inches of gravel and mulch. Since then—zero breaches.
Case Study 2: Rat Burrows Eliminated
In an urban garden setup, rats chewed into the base of a run. Switching from chicken wire to ½-inch hardware cloth buried 12 inches deep solved the problem in one weekend.
Lesson: Prevention is always easier and cheaper than repairing damage after a predator attack.
Want Natural Ways to Boost Chicken Health After a Scare?
Predator stress can affect your chickens’ health and egg production. Fortunately, there are natural remedies that can help reduce trauma, boost immunity, and get your flock back on track.
The Doctor’s Book of Survival Home Remedies offers dozens of natural poultry-support solutions using herbs, essential oils, and time-tested techniques—perfect for homesteaders who want to keep birds healthy without relying on harsh chemicals.
Conclusion
If you want to keep your chickens truly safe, you must protect all sides of the coop—especially underneath. Whether you install a predator apron, dig in hardware cloth, or build on a concrete base, these defenses will outsmart even the most persistent diggers.
Want to build a predator-proof coop from the ground up? Get the DIY & Woodworking Homesteading Plans Guide for coop blueprints, underground fencing systems, and smart defense ideas. Looking for natural remedies to help your birds recover from stress or injury? Grab The Doctor’s Book of Survival Home Remedies and care for your flock the natural way.