Does fence make a difference on run size?

[hoosierhen]

I copied this as my response to a free range feeding question. (I'm sorry, it probably didn't belong there, but that question, made me think of this question.)

As stated in that thread, chickens tend not to wander more than 50 feet or so away from their coop.

My question is this: I was wondering whether fencing an area makes a difference as to how far away from the coop a chicken will go?

I read a study once about children on playgrounds. If the playground area was fenced, the children spread out and utilized the whole space. Conversely, if the area was NOT fenced, the children would stay in groups up near the school building. I wonder if this applies to chickens as well?

 

[AtRendeAcres]

That is interesting ((not that I have any idea))

I hope someone who knows comes by I would like to know the answer

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

Our place only has barbed wire fencing so they dont even notice it. But I would think that unless it is very high they would just look at it as something to get on to look around as ours do the picnic tables and anything 4 feet off the ground or higher.
Randy

 

[chickflick]

My chickens seem to go by weather. When it was really hot out, they stayed closer to home... in the shaded areas, but still went two doors down... but in the shaded areas. When it got cooler, they were all over the place! Man it was hard keeping them out of the open field. They just hop right over my 4 ft fence, tho.

 

[Katy]

Mine go further than 50', but it does kind of depend on the weather.

 

[speckledhen]

chickens tend not to wander more than 50 feet or so away from their coop.

Don't I wish!

It does depend on the weather alot, but in clear weather, I've found mine 250 ft or more from their coop. It's why I'm perimeter fencing my acreage, to keep them home and roaming dogs out.​

 

[Queen of the Lilliputians]

Yeah, I don't find the 50' thing to be true, either. At first that was certainly true. But with every day they go a little further.. and a little further... before snow fell (when they would still come outside

) they were at about 200ft away. My yard is not fenced, but the chicken run is.. not sure if that helps you with your hypothesis or not

Meghan

 

[Gracie_Chickie]

I think you meant 50 yards!

 

[hoosierhen]

Yes you're right! I goofed it. That's what, 150 feet? Thanks!

 

[TransplantedTexan]

Mine were fine in the summer. They stayed on about two acres of my yard. When fall came( cooler weather) and downed crops in the ajacent fields they took off. Sometimes off of my 5 acres, and across the street into the 80 acre field behind the nieghbors house. That's when I had to fence them up.