Chickens won’t stay out of the road!!!

[MyISAbrownhens]

So I have a real problem. I don’t live in an area with a busy road, but our chickens still won’t stay out of it. The coop is not very close to the road, our run is not big enough to not let them free range, we keep all their incentives to stay near their coop, and they have plenty of cover AWAY from the road. Still, they keep venturing into and across the road, with little disregard for cars and dogs walking down the road, I feel like it’s only a matter of time before they get killed. They just want to go to the other side where there is a large field with no cover, which baffles me since my whole yard is wooded and a tick heaven that they want to leave My husband really doesn’t like fencing, so if possible, I’d fence them in as a last resort. I have no idea what to do though, besides putting up a fence for cars to slow down for hens.

 

[sourland]

It sounds as if fencing is your only option.

 

[FuzzyOwlFeet]

I have to agree with Sourland. Once my chickens started wandering to the neighbor's field I couldn't break their habit. I had to put up fencing.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

How old are they? When my ladies were younger they used to go everywhere I didn't want them to, lol, and I'd be out there herding them back to where I wanted them... after awhile I started locking them up in their run for a couple days if they wandered...I don't have anymore issues

 

[MyISAbrownhens]

How old are they? When my ladies were younger they used to go everywhere I didn't want them to, lol, and I'd be out there herding them back to where I wanted them... after awhile I started locking them up in their run for a couple days if they wandered...I don't have anymore issues

I have two old ladies who are 6, and the rest are just under a year. Unfortunately even the old ladies are going into the road as well

 

[3KillerBs]

How about electric poultry netting?

That way you won't have a permanent fence, but can move them around the yard where you want them to be.

 

[Folly's place]

I agree, fencing!
And about liability; if someone crashes while trying to avoid one of your birds, it could be on you. And homeowner's policies may not cover chickens, which are livestock.
Mary

 

[-Clementine-]

Seems like fencing will be your best bet. Make sure you clip their wings, though. My chickens would fly over the fence hang out around the road until I clipped their wings.

 

[MyISAbrownhens]

How about electric poultry netting?

That way you won't have a permanent fence, but can move them around the yard where you want them to be.

Hm I’ll have to look into that!

 

[-Clementine-]

How about electric poultry netting?

That way you won't have a permanent fence, but can move them around the yard where you want them to be.

Chickens can get out of that pretty easy, or at least mine can.