Hi everyone, Im thinking about setting up a small chicken run at the bottom of my garden for a couple of ex bats. I am wanting to fence them in with proper fencing as opposed to chicken wire. Does anyone know what sort of height the fence should be. Ive seen some nice willow fencing in Wickes but it would only be 2ft high, if this too short?

our chickens can easily jump/flap over that heightthey have perches about 5ft off the ground - but then we do not clip their wings. Not sure if 2ft would be high enough even for birds with their wings clipped though?

you should also be very aware of foxes - which are not always nocturnal

why don't you want a 'lid' on this pen?

i built a pen for ours wire all the way round and put on to a wooden from the wood i got from ellis timber in rotherham for all the wood 25 pounds wire mesh 2 10 meter rols 19.99 from our local diy shop , my next job is to build them a brand new hut to roost in

http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/43785/2893765150100660248S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2893765150100660248VeqzYf)

http://inlinethumb62.webshots.com/43325/2398096130100660248S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2398096130100660248Fhxjhv)

http://inlinethumb61.webshots.com/42620/2676295690100660248S600x600Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2676295690100660248yRxzVv)

I've got 5 foot weldmesh round my run - 4' above ground and 1' buried underground to prevent foxes digging in (they can jump over 4' easily but its right outside the back door and I didn't want a 6' high fence in my face so its a compromise). The chickens have got clipped wings but can still get out over the fence into the garden, which is as secure as possible with 6' plus fences all the way round.

If you have the option, its best to go for a walk in run with a roof on (ie at least 6' high so you can walk in and clean out the house, check the chickens, etc easily without learning how to be a contortionist) as this makes it a nice environment with regard to the weather not coming in so much/shade in the summer and bio secure should we have a bird flu outbreak. For preference you want to use 19 gauge weldmesh (foxes will chew through thinner wire) with around a 1" by 1/2" mesh to stop rats getting through as well.

Not sure if you know but you want at least 1 square metre of floor space per bird in the run, I've got 3 on a 10m square run, plus the garden when they are let out or escape, and they love to run up and down, flap their wings, jump up on things and launch off and generally have lots of fun. If you do put a roof on, I'd want it high enough that they can stretch up on their toes and flap, and you also need to be able to access all of the run yourself for cleaning, etc, so if a low roof it needs to be removeable, or preferably, back to the walk in run!

Have a look at the Practical Poultry and Pekin Bantam forums as I think both have nice helpful housing sections which have lots of advice on runs and the like.

thanx for all of the info. I will take it all on board and let you know how it all goes in the near future