So we have 15 birds, 2 are roosters, 1 is a turkey and 3 are silkies, the rest are a mixed variety of hens. All are still young. They have a great coop for night time security and during the day they free range in a LARGE yard that has about 80% tree coverage. On one side is the dog yard, the back fence and another side is the horse pasture, and a part juts up and fences off the front yard. Most fences are 4 ft high, the one to up front is 8 ft. We have 4 girls that are superb at getting up front. I think they get up on the a/c unit first, then fly over. They get into the dog yard, sans dogs, or in the pasture, and after some bug hunting, they run up and down the fence almost as if they forgot how to get over it, then suddenly they fly back in. Not so with the tall front fence. We are about to be out of town for 2.5 wks, a chicken sitter will be coming morning and night to let them out, feed, water, put them up, but the rest of the day they will be left to their own devices. I am torn about clipping wings. Right now they stay close, but about 500 ft from the fence they fly over, (the 8ft one to the front) is a main road. Not to mention, we are in the country and we have predators. I am beside myself with worry about them while we are gone. This is a medical trip, so it cannot be cancelled. 2 days ago one got out front and didn't know how to get back, she also didn't venture far enough to realize there is water available just 20 ft from where she was. It was 100 degrees. She was one thirsty girl when we got her back in. What would y'all do?
