Do I need a cover on my chicken run?

[MandalaMaMa]

Here's the deal. We built a chicken tractor and have been using it for 2 months now. We live in the country and the ground is very uneven so it has been a bit harder to move around than we thought. So we are making our chicken tractor permanent and adding a run to it. Because of living in the country/forest area of the Oregon coast I'm afraid to let the girls free range. Lots of creatures and stray cats. Plus our neighbors have a bird dog that is loose all the time and wanders onto our place. So we figured a chicken run was the way to go. Here's my question --- do we need to put something over top of it. The fence is going to be 6 feet high and the run will only be used during the day while we are home. I know we can clip their wings by my husband is not down with that. Can chickens fly over a 6 foot fence? I have a Orpington, a New Hampshire, a Delaware, a Wyandotte and 2 EasterEggs but was told their were Ameraucans. They are 4 1/2 months old.

 

[Kassaundra]

Yes they can fly over a 6 foot fence, though they won't be likely to, especially the heavier breeds in your list.

In a wooded area arial preditors may be an issue and if so a cover would help. Also if you plan on raising any chicks both feral cats and birds (hawks, owls, eagles) that wouldn't attempt a full gown chicken would go for a young one, even w/ a broody mom.

 

[BottleHollow]

I'd worry about something getting in from the top, like an owl or any of many climbing predators. We free ranged last year in a large fenced area and had issues with hawks and owls. We haven't had issues with raccoons or possums but see them on our back porch even though we have numerous cats and dogs around the house. Our runs/pens are covered to keep animals out, provide shade, and keep rain off the chickens.

On flying, we haven't had any chickens fly over 4 foot fences or 6 foot pens. Guineas and turkeys, though, have been good flyers.

On moving tractors, I've changed to bigger wheels and different offsets on how they are mounted. Seems to work better. Still a pain to move every day, though...

 

[Ridgerunner]

The question is not if they can, but will they. Some people keep chickens contained with a 3’ fence. If they are properly motivated they can get over a 6’ high fence. That’s why I say it’s not a question of can but will.

Some chickens just seem to have wanderlust. They want to roam. Many are quite happy to stay at home. So personality and how they take confinement is important. Your breeds generally take confinement well.

What often causes them to escape is pecking order fights or a hen trying to get away from an amorous rooster when she’s not in the mood, something like that. Once the pecking order is settled, that is less likely to cause a problem. In general, the smaller the run the less likely something like that is to happen.

Something else that often happens is that they fly up to the top rail just to perch. They are likely to fly down on either side. There is an easy solution to that. Don’t have anything that looks like a perch on the top of your fence. Have the wire stick up above any post or support.

Six feet high is normally high enough. They can get out but they normally won’t, especially when they get older and more settled. If you want to be absolutely sure they can’t get out, cover the top with bird netting. It’s fairly inexpensive and easy to put up. It will sag, so you probably want to put a support in the middle of the run to hold it up so you can walk under it.

This will not stop a raccoon, fox, or bobcat from climbing in or a coyote from just jumping in. They all do hunt during the day so there are no guarantees, but a six foot high fence is a reasonable deterrent. Many people, including me, use a strategy of a predator resistant run during the day and lock them in a predator proof coop at night.

Good luck. Hope this helps.

 

[MandalaMaMa]

Thanks everyone for the fast replies. Ridgerunner thanks for the good information -- we have no rooster and no plans on getting one. I don't think pecking order has been set. We will be locking them up in the chicken tractor / hen house at night which is totally predator proof. We have talked about bird netting or construction saftey fencing but was worried about shading the whole area.