Chickens escaping

[kaikuchta]

Hi all, we are in a low predator area and our hens have a large run available to them. It's a 3 foot high chicken wire fence held in place on rebar in the ground as we move it depending on season. Lately a few birds are getting out to get into the backyard. We are trying to keep them off the grass this year. Any hints on ways to deter them from making it over the fence? Was wondering if putting reflective streamers on the top would weird them out as it blows, or something similar? We rent so can't put in a permanent structure. Thoughts?

 

[robdog]

Cut their wings.....

 

[limited25]

Maybe attach garden netting?

 

[Gray Farms]

x2 clip wings

 

[wolfrosie]

If you don't like the garden netting stringing an electric wire across the top I think would be easier to move around. Once they figure out that attempting to fly over is not such a good idea you could turn it off and save on the electricity.
My escape artists have bird netting all around their yard and it works for them. That is until the sheep decide it's fun to take the end of it and pull a part off.

The netting's easy to set up but it might be a pain to unravel and strap it back up again depending on how much area you want to cover it with or how often you want to move it. My chickens are definitely too smart to fall for any strings though.

 

[Hokum Coco]

. Lately a few birds are getting out to get into the backyard. Thoughts?

My run is about 4 ft high. If you clip the feathers on one wing of each bird it will help.

Make sure there is no blood in the shaft of the feather before you clip or your bird may bleed to death.

On some birds you may even have to clip a few secondary flight feathers.

One wing throws the bird off balance and is more effective than trimming equal amounts off both wings.

Feather shafts containing blood.