I am getting ready to fence my garden in, I needed to know how far down will rabits ( cyotes ) dig to go under a fence. I have sheet metal to line the garden fence, but was wandering how far down to put it. Thanks Lisa

-- Lisa Hopple (hopplehomestead@safezone.net), May 28, 2000

Answers

I don't know how deep they dig, but I was very successful by bending the wire at the bottom so at ground level, it protruded a foot outward. This was then covered with a bit of soil. Seems the critters can't figure out to back up a foot and try to dig there, and they cant dig through the wire at the fence line. Sue

-- Sue (sulandherb@aol.com), May 28, 2000.

We literally buried a fence a good 6" under the ground around our chicken coop and a fox dug under it and got a bird. Maybe the critters wouldn't be so aggressive for a garden as they would for meat but that's the experience we've had.

-- Pat (pmikul@pcpros.net), May 28, 2000.

To be REALLY safe,you need to go down at least 18" and preferably 2 feet.I know it's a pain,but so is varmint damage.Incidently mink/weasels will also dig under fences.Use 1/4" hardware cloth[wire mess]on the SURFACE of the ground in poultry/waterfowl pens PLUS overhead protection[against the damned owls/hawks/coons,etc.].Keep the garden perimeters mowed short-so the critters have to cross bare ground[discourages them,allows you to see and shoot [hopefully]them. Good luck

-- Karl (fritz@hotmail.com), May 29, 2000.

I also used the wire bent away and buried method to keep coyotes out of my chicken pen and it worked the best. Had several days of them trying too. I was lazy and went down only 6 inches before bending the wire out 2 feet. Good Luck

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), May 30, 2000.

Hot wire properly spaced will keep them from going thru or over. We lay one foot chiken wire with one inch mesh on the ground up close to the perimeter fence & nothing seems to get under. It is relitively cheap and lasts longer than expected.

-- Okie-Dokie (www.tommycflinstone@aol.com), June 03, 2000.

At our last housewe had tons of cottontails. the first time we drove up there were probably twenty just running around the yard. We dug chicken wire into the ground six inches. None ever got in unless we left the gate open. For this job it would be nice to rent a trencher. We hand dug, in hard pan. I never have been known for doing things the easy way.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@calinet.com), June 03, 2000.