Run Fencing Ideas

[CGLadyLayers]

Hello,
I have a small backyard flock (22 birds). My coop and run I have now are not big enough for them all, and I also like letting them out to free range during the day.
I have a large back yard with a 7 foot block wall separating me from the neighbors on all sides. There are no preditors where I live. Recently, I have wanted to fix up my back yard and plant some beautiful things, but the ladies eat them all. Plus, it is a desert themed yard and has rocks that cause bumblefoot.
So, I want to section off a portion of the yard, where I can add foot appropriate materials for them to walk on and where they cannot eat all my new plants.
I tried putting up a 3 foot wire fence but they went over it.
Also, the materials used are an issue as the ground in my back yard is hard clay and digging is like digging in cement, and termites are an issue here so any type of wood gets eaten. Additionally, the sun kills anything plastic after a week outside in the summer.
I was thinking of electric fencing, but I also have kids that play in the back yard, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable with them out there with an electric fence.
Also, I don't have a massive budget.
Any ideas? How high to make it, what materials? How to build it?
Thank you!

 

[Debbie292d]

You could try protecting the plants instead with bird netting. That of course would take away their beauty to a certain extent. We use chicken wire to keep them out of our garden. They don't seem to bother any of the flowering plants though. Maybe because they're already getting a lot of greens?

Bird netting is inexpensive though and you could use that to cover your run you made so they can't fly out.