{"id":383,"date":"2026-08-12T10:24:47","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T10:24:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flockline.com\/learn\/guides\/chicken-coop-dig-apron-depth-install\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T10:40:07","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T10:40:07","slug":"chicken-coop-dig-apron-depth-install","status":"publish","type":"guide","link":"https:\/\/flockline.com\/learn\/coop\/chicken-coop-dig-apron-depth-install\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicken Coop Dig Apron: Width, Depth, and Installation Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"fl-quick-facts\" aria-labelledby=\"quick-facts-heading\">\n<h2 id=\"quick-facts-heading\">Quick facts<\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Recommended Apron Width<\/th>\n<td><strong>18 to 24 inches<\/strong> outward horizontally along run wall base<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Mesh Specification<\/th>\n<td><strong>1\/2-inch 19-gauge<\/strong> galvanized steel hardware cloth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Depth Options<\/th>\n<td>Flat on sod (held with landscape staples) OR buried 2-4 inches under dirt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Target Predators<\/th>\n<td>Foxes, coyotes, stray dogs, raccoons, badgers, and rats<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th>Attachment Method<\/th>\n<td>Fastened to bottom wood frame with 1&#8243; fender washers + wood screws<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/section>\n<aside class=\"fl-at-a-glance\" aria-labelledby=\"at-a-glance-heading\">\n<h2 id=\"at-a-glance-heading\">At a glance<\/h2>\n<dl>\n<dt>\ud83c\udfaf Best for<\/dt>\n<dd>Preventing burrowing predators from digging under run walls and gates<\/dd>\n<dt>\ud83d\udee0\ufe0f Difficulty<\/dt>\n<dd>Moderate; laying wire on sod is fast, trenching takes more labor<\/dd>\n<dt>\ud83d\udcb5 Cost<\/dt>\n<dd>Low add-on material cost when buying 36&#8243; or 48&#8243; wide hardware cloth rolls<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<\/aside>\n<section class=\"fl-answer-box\">\n<p><strong>Quick Answer:<\/strong> A <strong>chicken coop dig apron<\/strong> is a 12-to-24-inch strip of 1\/2-inch hardware cloth laid horizontally along the outer perimeter of your run wall. Predators like foxes, dogs, and raccoons dig directly at the wall base; when their paws hit the horizontal wire mesh, they cannot dig under. You can pin it to the sod with landscape staples or bury it 2-4 inches under dirt or gravel.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"fl-figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/flockline.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/09-dig-apron-diagram.png\" alt=\"Diagram of a chicken coop anti-dig predator apron installation\" \/><figcaption>Diagram showing horizontal hardware cloth dig apron attached to bottom frame and extending outward on the ground.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>1. How an Anti-Dig Apron Works<\/h2>\n<p>Canines (foxes, coyotes, dogs) and raccoons do not dig starting two feet away from a fence\u2014they stand right against the wall base and scratch downward. A horizontal dig apron exploits this instinct: when the animal paws at the soil right next to the wood, its claws immediately strike the rigid steel mesh.<\/p>\n<p>Because the animal is standing on top of the outer edge of the wire, it cannot dig beneath its own footing.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"fl-figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/flockline.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1280px-Installing_a_rabbit-proof_fence_-_geograph.org_.uk_-_8160866.jpg\" alt=\"Installation of ground barrier wire mesh along perimeter fence\" \/><figcaption>Ground-level wire mesh barrier pinned along perimeter fence line.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"fl-takeaway\">\n<p><strong>Key takeaway<\/strong> Secure the dig apron directly to the bottom frame timber using fender washers and wood screws so predators cannot pull the mesh away from the wall base.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<section class=\"fl-faq\">\n<h2 id=\"faq-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>Do I need to bury a dig apron?<\/h3>\n<p>Burying is optional. Laying the hardware cloth flat on top of the grass and securing it with 6-inch landscape staples allows grass to grow through the mesh within a few weeks, hiding it completely.<\/p>\n<h3>How wide should a dig apron be?<\/h3>\n<p>18 to 24 inches is standard for high predator areas (foxes, coyotes, dogs). 12 inches is sufficient for smaller suburban runs.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"fl-sources\" aria-labelledby=\"sources-heading\">\n<h2 id=\"sources-heading\">Sources and references<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Penn State Extension:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.psu.edu\/biosecurity-protecting-your-birds-from-disease\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Biosecurity &amp; Predator Defense Controls<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to install a 12-to-24-inch hardware cloth dig apron to stop predators from digging under your chicken run walls.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"cluster":[2],"risk_level":[3],"review_status":[],"page_type":[19],"class_list":["post-383","guide","type-guide","status-publish","hentry","cluster-coop"],"flockline":{"content_uuid":"","pipeline_id":"","canonical_keyword":"chicken coop dig apron depth installation","cluster":"coop","intent":"","risk_level":"","review_status":"","reviewer_name":"","vet_approved":false,"evidence_json":"","evidence_reviewed_at":"","freshness_date":"","internal_link_targets":[],"claim_ids":[],"answer_html":"","tool_slug":"","schema_controls":{},"owner_journey":{},"proprietary_asset":{},"visual_diagnosis":{},"cluster_role":{},"community_methodology":{},"first_party_methodology":{}},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.2 (Yoast SEO v28.0) - 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