Chickens need sunshine and fresh air, same as the rest of us.
Chicken runs allow for fresh air and sunshine, but they also expose the birds to wild and domesticated predators. If the run is next to a pasture, there is also the possibility the grazing animals will push over the fence to reach vegetation in the chicken run. Different types of fencing (and combinations of fencing) have been designed to accommodate the different environments and circumstances for which a chicken run can be built. These include chicken wire, netting, chain link fencing, electric fencing and wooden fencing.
Chicken Wire
Chicken wire fencing (also known as poultry wire and poultry netting) is the classic bendable, galvanized metal mesh fencing for chicken runs. The wire can be galvanized either before or after it is formed into the fence mesh. It is typically made with a six-sided design of wire mesh.
Polyethylene Netting
Polyethylene poultry netting is another type of mesh. It is often formed using a four-sided design, and is produced in various mesh sizes. This type of poultry fencing is vulnerable to being chewed open by animals, so it is often used in combination with electric fencing to ward off predators.
Chain Link
Chain-link fencing is a sturdy type of fencing formed using thick wire that is twisted to form a diamond-shaped mesh. For a chicken run, a small mesh size is normally used.
Wood
A wooden fence for a chicken run can be of a number of designs including split rail and picket fence. A split rail fence is constructed from split logs connected to upright posts set in the ground or logs are laid across logs for support. This is used with an electric fence. A picket fence for chicken run fencing may either be built with gaps and be backed using chicken wire, or may be built without gaps.
Electric Fence
An electric fence is a wire or wires through which an electric current runs. When an animal comes into contact with the fence, the current changes direction and goes through the animal and then enters the ground and then back to the fence. The setting of the current determines the amount of discomfort the animals experience from the electric shock. This discomfort discourages the animals from touching the fence again.
Tags: chicken wire, electric fencing, fence chicken, formed using, picket fence