How big an L for mesh run?

mine is 12", with a slab strip along the base of the wire, the omlet coop and run only has a strip about 8" wide, which seems to do the trick.

When Brian built our pure breeds house, he dug down nearly a foot, laid the weldmesh down and then the L coming out about 6".  We occasionally see diggings around that house, but ratty sees or feels the wire and b****rs off!!!!   

Yes, the electric wire will be 8" above the ground and 8" out from the wire.  I am looking at allowing probably 18" of wire on the L partly because I will have 8 foot high wire (4ft and 4ft)and so will have plenty to bend at the bottom and also some to hang over the top so nothing can climb the wire and get over it as at the top it will hang over the outer edge. These will be my first chickens aswell and can't wait.  I need to get my run up and running in the next week or two and then I can go and choose the hens.  Trouble is, there aren't always that many around at this time of year which means if I want specific hybrids, which I do, I might not be able to get them!  We will be starting off with 4 and then next year get another 2.
Hope it all goes well with you and your hens. 
Carolbriar

Mmmmm, not sure.  The run will have a circumference of approx 35 metres which would be a large area to cover.  If we do, it will be normal chicken wire.  I bought 19g weld mesh for the run.  I suppose it also depends which hens I get because some can be quite flighty and could fly out. 
What hens are you getting and how many?  I think we will start with 4.

Carolbriar

Fruit cage netting. Must be fixed so not even smallest gap because if anything can get in, then it won't get out. All hell breaks loose. We used it, but after a windy period there was a gap at the side of the fence. Crows could stand on the fence, dive through the gap to get at the food. Unfortunately they could not see that there was a net over the whole and tried to fly across and out. Once down the hens attacked them. Had to remove net to stop this happening. HTH.

Thanks to all for the suggestions  The run is 12' x 16' and on a slope. We bought weld mesh (19 guage (I think); 1mm; 1" x 1/2" mesh) and will have to mesh the roof as there are overhanging trees and I hear foxy can climb like a cat!
That's foxy as in the fox not Foxy the member on here  ...though maybe he can climb, too...
I'd like to post some photos of progress for comments and encouragment but not sure where/how to put them - need to just figure it out

What hens are you getting and how many?  I think we will start with 4.

We're getting 6 ex batts (against all advice but the decision's made, now). I'm sooooooooooooooooo  excited and can't wait to see horribly deprived little creatures learning to be chickens.

(Hope your feeling a little better today, karlooben?)

OMG, Foxy I'm sorry!
My son was suggesting boy names for my new girls and there I was going on about gender crises!!