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Welded wire is generally recommended, either a small gauge or covered for the bottom couple of feet with hardware cloth. 33 chickens would be a minimum of 330 sq ft, or about 20x16. Actually 87+ sq ft per bird is said to be much better, allows for vegetation growth instead of pecked clean dirt. Something like hardware cloth or concrete scraps going down 1' then outward 1' should prevent digging under. I just built a 75' X 75' run, 6' high, and used 3 strands of electric fence outside it. Obviously at that size it has no cover. I plan to use old CD's, aluminum pie plates, etc. to deter hawks although to date they have not bothered the chickens; we have the most trouble with foxes here, plus coyotes and stray dogs. I have over 50 right now, some are headed for the freezer, but will probably have about 30 around most of the time.
I am certainly no expert; hope some others will chime in here.
I have 33 pullets of various breeds, and want to get more.. I figure I want it to be 6 ft. high., but the rest is negotiable..
