WHen you build, be advised that chicken wire is only good for keeping chickens in. It is not adequate for keeping predators out! Dogs, coyotes, foxes, and raccoons, among others, are more than capable of ripping right through it to get to a tasty chicken dinner. So build with sturdy lumber and staple hardware cloth (hwc) to the outside of your run - not the inside, where it can be pushed inward. A coop is also a good idea, an enclosed shed or small building in which your birds can be locked safely inside at night. The coop should contain a roost and nesting boxes. Good luck and enjoy your flock!
