Alternative to Clipping Wings?

[CapricornFarm]

Forgive my igoramce: which would be the distal end?

The distant end. The proximal end is the close end.

 

[aart]

Erect a "tripwire": a thin wire or sturdy string of some sort about 6 inches above the top of the fence netting

If they are clambering over, trip wire might work better 6" below top and 6" off inside of fence.

 

[Zinnia Hens]

You have a point. Clipping wings takes care of 99% but theres always that one in a hundred. Yet putting a cover only works for stationary small runs, and sometimes the expense or inconvenience isn't justified just for that 1 percent even then--it can require twice as much fencing to make it high enough for human access and then you still need to buy and install the roof or top netting.

However, I do have one very good tip to add to this topic though. I learned a very cool solution from the 1940s book Poultry and Rabbits on Scraps that I havent heard of elsewhere but is ingenious.

Erect a "tripwire": a thin wire or sturdy string of some sort about 6 inches above the top of the fence netting (you will need posts that extend beyond the top of netting, or zip-tie on some sticks as extensions). If erected properly and solidly and the "wire" is taught, this makes it nearly physically impossible to perch on the top (which is how chickens typically get over), and makes it difficult or impossible for those determined "climbers", because it obstructs their flapping wings as they try to clear the top.

Considering its a relatively easy feature to add on, and makes a much more secure fence, it can be well worth the effort. I had a fence section where multiple hens kept getting over multiple times a day, they were learning from each other and it was quite annoying; then i read about this method and perhaps twenty minutes of light work to erect a tripwire with some spare clothesline (and just on the side where they were getting over!) fixed the problem completely and permanently!

I LOVE this idea! I have been searching for alternatives to wing clipping because in our first set of chickens one came with clipped wings and she was undoubtedly the very bottom of the pecking order. Her molts were drawn out, she was the last to be allowed to do anything, and she was unable to roost so she slept in the nesting boxes. We even lovingly named her Scrappy. Our new gals from this spring are getting adventureous an flying over our fences into the neighbor's yards. I am excited to try a trip wire, it might just do the trick!