enclosing the run with tress?

[clickchicks]

This little chicken betrayed the flock:

I caught her out of the pen once and thought maybe she just followed me out and I wasn't paying attention. Yesterday I caught her flying up into this tree. She scooted her way up even higher before finally flying/falling down (video link).

It was somewhat optimistic to think they would stay in with such a low barrier, but I'd hoped to put up a slightly taller wire fence to keep them in here. Now I'm not sure that would work, as this particular tree she's using is much higher than 6 feet and she can easily get up there.

I could clip her wings, but I'd rather not for a couple of reasons. The main one being she's the smallest of the 3 hens and I want her to be able to easily get away from the others if they try to bully her (no one has been overly aggressive yet but they are still young). Pretty sure she could also still climb up that tree in the picture even with trimmed wings, its at a very unfortunate angle.

Has anyone ever competently enclosed a run with multiple trees in it? Here's the tree layout:

Tree #2 is dead and was going to go either way, but that still leaves 4 trees. This coop is an inspiration, but I'm nowhere near this savvy of a builder. I've seen game bird netting mentioned in the past, I wonder if anyone has ever tried to use that around trees? I don't want to invest the money only to find out it will simply not work, but I feel like it shouldn't be impossible to cut slits in the net to go around the trees and hog ring them back together. This would be assuming I have already installed a taller, more permanent fence across the open area.

Has anyone ever tried something similar? Even if I ultimately decide to trim this hen's wings, I think it would be nice to enclose the area. Just in case. The tree cover makes it hard for hawks to see them now, but in the winter they will be more exposed.

 

[Folly's place]

I'd rework the run so those tall trees aren't in it at all. Much safer and easier. The birds will enjoy time under those trees when free ranging, and predators won't be able to get into their pen directly that way.
Our coop is next to mature spruces, and having this treed area is great for their free ranging time, but not overnight.
Five or six feet in the air is no problem for many chickens, especially younger birds. Plan on a covered run if you want to keep predators out and birds inside!
Mary

 

[Sonya9]

I also have netting over the run. I would not clip their wings, netting makes far more sense and keeps aerial predators out at the same time. Full sized mature (2 yrs +) layers typically will stay in with a lower fence, but the first year or so they are very agile and prone to climbing/flying out.

Maybe build their permanent pen to the left where there aren't any trees, and then if they stop flying/climbing as they get older/heavier you can expand it to include the trees (though you will probably have added younger birds by then).

 

[clickchicks]

@Folly's place @Sonya9

Thanks both. Unfortunately I'm not really able to expand in the other direction. To the immediate left of the coop is the fence line and the end of my property. The other side of the privacy fence is a road, which makes containment all the more important.

My set up is sort of weird. They are technically in the front yard (its more of a side yard but ends in the front), and only this little section is fenced in. They can't truly free range because of that.

I'll try and get a picture to better illustrate this, I can't really describe it well.

 

[Folly's place]

We deal with the space we have, and make it work. Me too!
Mary

 

[clickchicks]

Ok, here's my crude drawing:

The grey "L" represents the road, my house is at an intersection. Black lines represent the fenceline. Behind me is city-owned property and to the right is my neighbor's property. The green bit is the coop area. It would be pretty easy to fence off that space and is a decent amount of room for them, about 30 feet by 15.

Its just these darn trees (I actually love them and would not remove unless they were dead).

I would like to let them have free range of the backyard, but I have 4 dogs, 3 of which would kill them in a heartbeat. Dogs stay indoors mostly and I've thought about trying monitored yard time... but if something happened and a dog accidentally slipped into the yard while they are out, they'd be toast.

I just have to figure out these trees.

 

[Folly's place]

And build a very safe run!
Mary

 

[Sonya9]

Ok, here's my crude drawing:

View attachment 2267152
The grey "L" represents the road, my house is at an intersection. Black lines represent the fenceline. Behind me is city-owned property and to the right is my neighbor's property. The green bit is the coop area. It would be pretty easy to fence off that space and is a decent amount of room for them, about 30 feet by 15.

Its just these darn trees (I actually love them and would not remove unless they were dead).

I would like to let them have free range of the backyard, but I have 4 dogs, 3 of which would kill them in a heartbeat. Dogs stay indoors mostly and I've thought about trying monitored yard time... but if something happened and a dog accidentally slipped into the yard while they are out, they'd be toast.

I just have to figure out these trees.

I have five dogs and 2 are chicken killers. My flock only free ranges in the late afternoon for a couple of hours so they will go back to the hen house on their own at dusk (I have 10+ birds and would never be able to get them all back into the coop otherwise). During that time the dogs stay in the house.

Though if you let them free range realize the escapee will be even more tempted to go into the main yard on her own, then the dogs get let out (or were already out) and disaster ensues. It has happened here a few times with young layers that figure out how to escape the large netted run.

 

[clickchicks]

And build a very safe run!
Mary

YES! 100%. I want them to be safe first and foremost.

I have five dogs and 2 are chicken killers. My flock only free ranges in the late afternoon for a couple of hours so they will go back to the hen house on their own at dusk (I have 10+ birds and would never be able to get them all back into the coop otherwise). During that time the dogs stay in the house.

Though if you let them free range realize the escapee will be even more tempted to go into the main yard on her own, then the dogs get let out (or were already out) and disaster ensues. It has happened here a few times with young layers that figure out how to escape the large netted run.

This is a good concern to surface. The problematic tree is far from the fence that divides the backyard, but I'm sure if she was determined enough she could hop the 6' fence even without the tree. She's a lean little bird who I imagine wouldn't have much trouble.

 

[Sonya9]

YES! 100%. I want them to be safe first and foremost.



This is a good concern to surface. The problematic tree is far from the fence that divides the backyard, but I'm sure if she was determined enough she could hop the 6' fence even without the tree. She's a lean little bird who I imagine wouldn't have much trouble.

If she is a light bodied breed she may never outgrow her ability to fly/climb well. If she gets familiar with the main dog yard she will be more likely to visit it on her own.