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Excluding rats
sandyv
Posts: 116
My plot is essentially a corner of a field with my greenhouse on slabs, on a base of sand/gravel. With winter coming rats have moved in from the fields to burrow and live under the greenhouse. I've eradicated the residents but now want to prevent future burrowing by burying chicken wire in a trench around the edge of the base. I can't find any definite info about how deep and wide to go with the wire. Any ideas please?
0
Posts
If they really want to get in then I doubt chicken wire will be up-to-the-job Sandy. I would suggest something with a thicker gauge and closed mesh as they can squeeze through the smallest of gaps.
I've no experience of doing this specific job although I have helped erect otter fencing around lakes. They're obviously a different beast altogether but one thing I did learn which you may think about incorporating is putting a 'return' in the mesh i.e.put a 90 degree bend in about 20cm's+ at the bottom of the mesh and have this return facing outwards if that makes sense. This stops them digging down initially before they try to tunnel forwards.
For otters they recommend burying the mesh to something like 1ft if I recall correctly but this might be overkill for rats, I don't honestly know but Google might be your friend.
Here you go.
https://youtu.be/c-Pj-hKv8Wk7
Even keeps Skunks out should you have any in your area!
I hadn't thought of You Tube, I'll have a good look, thanks.