Hi
Thanks for getting back.
As I said, they won't be in the run unless we're out during the day - the coop is separate to the run I intend to build - the coop is raised over part of the run. We both work from home and own a (soft) dog, so I'm pretty sure they'll be safe in the garden from foxes during the day, and of course they'll be in the coop overnight - I wasn't too concerned about it being the minimum size as I know they won't be in it - we hardly go out as it is to be honest! I can give them more though, but as I said, they won't be living in there 24/7 - there's no point if we have a garden.
Proud of the garden? Hehe - well, we do have some border plants but worst case scenario we can fence/wall off half the garden, giving them about 2,000 sq ft to pootle around in, though if we find they pick on certain plants or have a favourite patch then that'll be there territory. We don't have time for perfect lawns and the such, much rather be out digging veggies or walking the dog (the veggies will be fenced in btw, unless it's end of season in which case they'll be free to roam it). The garden edging is fenced except some holly hedging at the front which is pretty thick - the garden is dog-escape proof (it has to be else he'd be in the neighbour's cat bowl) so I assume it will be chicken-proof?
We only have neighbours to one side who have a 1m tall fence - if they find their way in there then they don't have a problem with it - will they be able to fly over a 1m fence if wing-clipped?
My question though was, given the chance of either staying in a run attached to the coop or having the door open to the garden, will chooks roam or will they stay in the vicinity of the run/coop?
Cheers