Fence height

[Bejep714]

Our fence in our run is around 5 foot 3 or 4. Over a year ago we cut our Rhode island reds feathers because they were escaping, and so far they haven't grown back or gotten over the fence. Our buff orpingstons have never gotten over the fence either and we never cut their feathers. We do have a buff silkie rooster, and it seems he can jump really high. We have had him for 10 months now, and he hasn't escaped. I have seen him eye this piece of plywood that hangs down a bit, and I wonder if he ever would try to escape. We have string up, but i think he could get around it. Should I remove the plywood? Its sagging since it's been up for a year, and I'm also worried it could break apart.

 

[nchls school]

If the plywood serves not purpose, then yes, remove it. Chickens, turkeys, peafowl, etc. hesitate to fly up on a wire fence; at least mine do, but drape a feed bag, or anything solid, on the fence, the birds are on it in a flash. My birds are not clipped and free range. The run stands open unless I have new babies, of some sort, that need to be confined for a time. I assume your clipped birds will react the same way to a wire fence and solid objects they can fly up to.

 

[aart]

I have seen him eye this piece of plywood that hangs down a bit, and I wonder if he ever would try to escape. We have string up, but i think he could get around it. Should I remove the plywood? Its sagging since it's been up for a year, and I'm also worried it could break apart.

Some pics would help here.

 

[CoconutCoffee]

You can place some kind of deer or garden netting around the edge of the run, using the string to hold it up and tying it to the fencing. That's what I've had to do as I have a rooster that can clear a 7ft fence and some younger ones who may get an idea as they get older. They only seemed to focus on one area though so that's what I covered. Locally I've seen netting go for $20-$50 or so depending on thickness. The ones I got were 100ft long 7ft high.

 

[Bejep714]

Here are some pictures. As you can see the plywood is sagging. It's there because of the chair where they like to sit on is below it, and it blocks their escape. I also realized the pallet I have their food on is very close to the top of the fence. Its been like that for over a year. I feel like I'm worrying to much about their escape. I've only seen the rooster jump high before, and he wasn't even trying to jump over the fence. He likes to be near the flock, so I doubt he will escape. The other have never done it since their wings have been clipped. Do you think it's fine the way it is? I might put a new piece of plywood on at some point. But I checked it's sturdiness and it seems fine.

 

[aart]

What is the purpose of the sagging chipboard?
I'd get rid of it.

Move anything, that chair and the feed pallet, away from the fence.

Maybe add more strings(for hawk protection?) closer to the fence.
Could also put a string or two or three(spaced at 2-4-6") just above the top of fence,
to keep chickens from landing on fence top to go over.

 

[Bejep714]

The plywood is so the chickens on the chair can't easily jump over. I'll probably replace it with a new one, maybe even angle it the other direction. I may move the food over a foot, but I dont feel like it's that important. They have never tried to escape in well over a year it's been up. I may add more string and add some string around the top like you suggested. Thank you

 

[BleuSaphir]

One thing I learned about keeping animals...just because they haven't tried to do anything yet, doesn't mean "that will stay in place" of "having no problems yet".

The suggestion to move objects away from the fence is to prevent the what if.

 

[ChickensinG]

Our fence in our run is around 5 foot 3 or 4. Over a year ago we cut our Rhode island reds feathers because they were escaping, and so far they haven't grown back or gotten over the fence. Our buff orpingstons have never gotten over the fence either and we never cut their feathers. We do have a buff silkie rooster, and it seems he can jump really high. We have had him for 10 months now, and he hasn't escaped. I have seen him eye this piece of plywood that hangs down a bit, and I wonder if he ever would try to escape. We have string up, but i think he could get around it. Should I remove the plywood? Its sagging since it's been up for a year, and I'm also worried it could break apart.

Definitely remove the plywood. I found if you let the chickens out in the yard, they'll stop trying to escape. I started sitting outside in the yard with my 7 girls and turning big rocks, boards, or pot when they see the feast of bugs, they started finding them for themselves and they don't try to fly away. As soon as they hear my voice, they come running. I love it