Can a chicken run have wire across the bottom?

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I am thinking about having a chicken run build and wondered if it would be ok to put wire across the bottom to stop the foxes digging under?
I have never kept them before and now have the opportunity which I have waited for a long time. Im very excited but don't want to lose them to the foxes.
Any advice welcomed.
Thanks
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rhosynbach

we have chicken wire on the bottoms of pens we use for young stock as we lost some chicks to rats, and have not had any problems i think the downside is they can not scratch and hens love scratching may be you could let them out somtimes. but make sure they have a secure shed at night as we have had foxes rip chicken wire to get in.

lostinrates

Yes you can wire the bottom, then ypu can cover the wire with soil or wood chip, to allow the scratch, essentially burying the wire. For a static run i think, personally, its pretty essential, unlike on a moving one where it can become a liability unlis you move it every couple of days come what may.

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Thanks very much for your answers. I was thinking about submerging the wire to allow for scratching so that may be an option. Iam also assuming I get different thicknesses of chicken wire so will opt for the strongest I can find.
Once again thanks for your answers
Kind regards
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krlyr

You may be better using weldmesh or a thick aviary wire - chicken wire can be easily ripped apart by a fox.

Mojisola

If it's a static run you can bury a "skirt" of strong mesh fencing around the run. Ideally, bend it into a rough L shape so that, if a fox tries to dig under the run, it will dig into the corner of the L and find its way blocked down and forward.

Chooks love to scratch and dig and dust bath so much, it's worth doing so that you don't have to have mesh in the run itself.

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Thanks very much for the suggestions. I particularly like the idea of the stronger wire mesh which I am currently looking into. I have found a supplier of fox proof mesh that looks strong and sturdy rather like aviary mesh.

Thanks also for the tip about burying the L shaped wire. This will definitely give the hens scratching space. It will be a fixed run so I might give this a go. Thanks alot

Kind regards
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