Fence Height & Material for Free Ranging Chickens

[DaidChappel]

We are going to fence off a section for the chickens (11 hens and 1 rooster) to free range during a portion of the day. The area will be approximately 30' x 70'. We've seen foxes around early in the morning. The free range area is wooded and we've seen hawks around (occasionally).
We are confused about the proper fence height and fencing material. It sounds like the "common" method might be the 2" x 3" 5' wire fencing with a one foot length of netting on top.
Does this sound right? We are also seeing that any kind of top rail would be ill advised. What are the opinions about covering the top with that predator netting? Anything else we should know about fencing this free range area?

 

[perkolator]

When actually "free ranging" it's implied there isn't any fence involved; what you're describing is a fenced run.

My 2nd run is 5ft fence with a 1ft extension at the top so I can mostly stand up inside - but I've enclosed the top with chicken wire to keep things from going over the fence top.

A 6ft open-top fence won't be tall enough for containment, that was my first attempt on Run2; even an 8ft deer fence might not be enough for some determined chickens (my whole property has deer fence perimeter and we've had chickens get over). An enclosed top would be best for security, especially if it's in the wood where you're not able to watch them. It's not just hawks that can come from overhead, some predators can easily climb over a fence, such as a bobcat.

2"x3" holes on fencing would technically work, it's a pretty strong fence type - but it won't do anything to protect from predators that can fit through or reach through that size of holes, like a weasel-family vermin. Also a 30x70 ft run isn't that big and some predators like raccoons for example, could team up to scare the flock into a corner against the fence where another one comes up behind and grabs through the fence - this is why many people do the lower 2-3ft of walls in hardware cloth

Also being out of sight in a wooded area, I'd consider an anti-dig skirting to prevent something from digging underneath for access; won't take long for a fox, etc. to dig a hole in nice soft forest humus for a chicken snack.

Good luck!