Looks like my hens are taking their chances with the wire mesh

[gryeyes]

My rag-tag run enclosure is supported by 6 ft metal T-posts. The fencing is three layers - chicken wire on the inside, the next layer is 3 ft hardware cloth with one foot of it used as an "apron," then the fence portion is covered by that green or black plastic poultry fencing. The inside chicken wire and outside plastic poultry fencing is six feet tall around most of the run, but drops to 4 feet in one section. I just kept hanging and layering it, so the hardware cloth bottom section is barely visible, but it's there. The entire run is covered overhead with bird netting. The coops have hardware cloth covering all windows, vents, and the raised bits underneath 'em.

It ain't pretty, but I think it's pretty darned secure.

 

[NellaBean]

Lowes has a plastic mesh...I think 3 feet tall and 50 feet long.......for about $10. I would use the 2x4 welded wire fencing and then line the INSIDE bottom few feet with the plastic mesh.