Running a wildlife control business, this is one thing I do for a living so to speak. First use a vinyl coated hardware cloth so it won't rust as fast. It should be buried otherwise animals will go under eventually. I bury mine 8-12 inches and also bend it into an L about the same length...
Yes that's enough run space but I wouldn't go with anymore than that. We use only dog kennels for our runs as well. We do not wrap them or use a roof of any sort.
I've read the posts that the hatchery rhode island white's will often have a single comb instead of the accepted standard rose comb. Will these rhode island whites still produce the gold sex link offspring?