Can you train chickens to stay in your yard?

[VTChicky]

Thanks everyone! I think we've come up with a tentative plan for keeping them in the yard but still allowing them out of the run.

 

[kmom08]

I have a 4' chain link fenced in half acre back yard and my last flock of 6 never left the yard. We still had a run for when we weren't going to be home or if the weather was bad. This time around I have a couple girls that seem like they could be more flighty than the last batch so if needed I'll clip their wings.

One thing to keep in mind is dogs can still jump or climb a chain link fence as well. We had neighbors who's pit bull was constantly climbing our fence luckily they moved away (this was between flocks). So again we built a run this time around and will only allow ranging when we are home.

 

[Northern.Ontario]

The best set up is always a fort knox-type, fully secured run. But if you are of the belief that "free-ranging" is the best, then a solid electrified fence barrier is the next best thing. The 4 foot high poultry netting, that has 10-12 horizontal electric wires is amazing. Connect to an energizer that puts out 7,700 volts and you'll keep land based predators out (bigger than a rat). The square holes along the bottom are 2"x2" which may keep out the weasel family of predators. Your chickens will always be prone to aerial assault.

 

[lazy gardener]

Secure coop and run IMO is an absolute requirement for a city chick. Agreed, electric poultry netting would allow you to let them experience "the yard" while still keeping them contained. The beauty of electronet is that the step in posts make it super easy to move the enclosure around your yard to prevent excess wear on any one area. They make a 100' length that would be perfect for your yard size. Check Premier1.

 

[CheerioTheBuffRooster]

We have 8 free ranging chickens that are around 6 months old, and a rooster who's a good protector, so I'm not worried about their protection. But every day they wander a bit farther and our neighbors also have free ranging chickens and a roo, so we try hard to herd them away from their yard

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
You will find that fencing is your friend, both for your sake and neighborhood peace. And everyone has lots of predators, mostly but not always at night. I do hope you have a safe coop and run for them!
Mary

 

[happychicken2435]

i have a 4 ft chain link fence and my bantam flock stays in the yard and goes to the coop at night

 

[3KillerBs]

One thing to keep in mind is dogs can still jump or climb a chain link fence as well.

One of the many reasons that I'm becoming more and more enamored of electric.

 

[Rooapalooza]

I don't know what your set up is, but I personally prefer netting or staked chicken wire rather than an actual fence. My chickens won't fly over anything they can't jump on first. They used to escape from my 6.5ft tall wooden fence by flying onto it and then hopping down, but they don't cross my 3ft tall chicken wire border, unless they find a place where they can dig underneath it.

If your neighbors all have free range chickens I would assume that there aren't dogs/predators running around free all the time, and no one will get bent out of shape if one of your hens roams into their property, so it isn't life or death if they get away from you?

As for training chickens to stay in an area, you sort of can. I have a fence between me and one of my neighbors that my chickens can get across. I learned that the hard way when one of my chickens was killed by the neighbor's dog. However, since then, they have never flown over, even when the dog isn't in the lawn. They learned the lesson immediately and haven't forgotten. My chickens also never cross the road behind my house, presumably because of cars. However, I've had no luck keeping them out of my garden or from getting into one of my other neighbor's lawns, so I guess they teach themselves their own boundaries.