A run Vs electric fencing

Hi all,

I am getting 3 or 4 chickens to keep in my smallish back garden.

Originally i was going to get a coop with an attached run that was fox proof.

Ideally, I'd like the chickens to free range in around the garden and not be stuck in the run all day whilst I'm at work.

My boyfriend thinks that we could use electric fencing around the top of our fence as an alternative to the run - so that the chickens can have the whole garden whilst we're out.

I feel more confident about keeping them safe from the fox in a run, but do like the idea of the being able to potter around the garden all day.

From your experience o great forum members, what do you reckon??

Thanks a lot!

I personally would prefer the electric fencing to give them more freedom. However if you are electrifying the top of the fence what steps are you taking to prevent a fox digging in? Have you considered a poultry net which can be electrified? Just a thought.

I think mine is approx 4 feet. With an electrified net you would not need protection to prevent a fox digging in. I do not have a roof over mine. What I have seen suggested on here is to bait the net with somehting tasty so that any foxes get a shock from the net and learn to be frightened of it.