chicken keeps escaping

[candychick]

My polish hen has been escaping. She has probably escaped 4 or 5 times, and we've had her for less than a year. Most of those times we ended up almost losing her. Today she got out when it was dark and rainy...all the doors were closed and we searched for her everywhere...but we found her...in our neighbors yard. She was soaked and exhausted...how can i keep her from escaping? I was thinking about clipping her wings...is that a good idea? and is there any special way to do it?

 

[buffyfluffy]

Do you have locks on your doors?

 

[nbenevento]

Do you have a run attached to your coop? I am guessing that if you do, it is not covered. Getting some bird netting and throw it over the top if so. If that is not the case, you don't see any openings in your coop or run somewhere that she is getting out? Use some hardware cloth to close off any openings.

 

[candychick]

We put our chickens in a fence with our goats they have a lot of space so putting netting on top wouldn't work

 

[candychick]

We put our chickens in a fence with our goats they have a lot of space so putting netting on top wouldn't work

 

[nbenevento]

We put our chickens in a fence with our goats they have a lot of space so putting netting on top wouldn't work

Clipping her wings is probably your only option then. Go on YouTube to see how to clip wings. That way instead of reading written instructions, you can actually see it done. At least for me it's easier to learn things by watching.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

We have a 125' x 75' chicken pasture and each and every one of our hens has her wings clipped. It's easy and painless--on the order of clipping your fingernails. Here's the BYC article on how to do it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-to-clip-trim-the-wings-of-your-chicken-to-prevent-flight

We also have goats in our chicken pasture.

 

[buffyfluffy]

Do you have a fence gate? If so, than make sure there is a lock on the fence so there is no possible way your chicken could open it and get out. Also, it's possible your fencing is too low. If THAT'S the case, then I would recommend making a run for your chickens, or make a chicken tractor. These things are actually very easy to make! I'm sure there are tutorials for those online, or even on here!

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Do you have a fence gate? If so, than make sure there is a lock on the fence so there is no possible way your chicken could open it and get out. Also, it's possible your fencing is too low. If THAT'S the case, then I would recommend making a run for your chickens, or make a chicken tractor. These things are actually very easy to make! I'm sure there are tutorials for those online, or even on here!

You have seriously had chickens that were able to open a latched gate?

 

[candychick]

Thank you!!!!!!