/ Register


  1. Come check out hundreds of awesome coop pages (and a few that need suggestions) in our 2018 Coop Rating Project!

Fence modifications is it possible?

Discussion in 'Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance' started by Sylverfly, Feb 23, 2011.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Feb 23, 2011 #1
    Sylverfly

    Sylverfly Songster

    546
    10
    161
    Apr 29, 2009
    Northeastern Michigan
    So I have an old barn that I want to turn into a giant chicken coop and there is already a large fenced in portion outside the problem is the fence is like four feet high and I can’t have chickens all over the place, don’t want to be walking in poop, too many predators and a very busy road in the near vicinity and all. So is there any way I can keep the hens in with some modification of some kind like extending the fence up or a canopy of some kind. The fence is attached to the barn and is about 25’ x 30’ 4’ high. So anyone ever do anything like this before or have any ideas please let me know or better yet post some pics. Thanks everyone.
     

  4. Feb 23, 2011 #2
    hipeatall

    hipeatall Songster

    1,133
    2
    176
    Mar 2, 2009
    Quote:My fences are about 4ft tall. Most of my chickens are happy to stay in and have no desire to flee. I think it may have alot to do with the breeds I keep. Also, if your concern is just about keeping the chickens in you can clip their wing feathers.
     
  6. Feb 23, 2011 #3
    Judy

    Judy Crowing Staff Member Premium Member

    34,025
    483
    448
    Feb 5, 2009
    South Georgia
    Mine is nearly 6' tall. If they want out, which is rare, they flap and climb the fence with their claws; height wouldn't matter. Mostly the #2 roo would do this to get out when #1 got too pushy for him. I agree, though, mostly they don't bother; my yard is about 70' x 70' and I usually have about 15-30 chickens. I do open the yard and let them wander where they want a lot of days, though.
     
  8. Feb 23, 2011 #4
    patandchickens

    patandchickens Flock Mistress

    12,520
    154
    341
    Apr 20, 2007
    Ontario, Canada
    They will fly over pretty much ANY fence if they WANT to, regardless of height. *Will* yours want to? Who knows.

    One thing that supposedly helps -- I have not tried it myself but it works generally pretty well with other smaller critters so I am quite willing to believe those who use it successfully with their chickens -- is to have the top of your fence NOT have a rail or other very visible element. Just being the top of the wire mesh, you know? So that they know something's up there but it's hard to judge exactly where it ends, and so it is not just crying out to them to fly up *onto* to perch.

    So you might try adding a 1-2' extension on the top of your existing fence, just wire sticking up with maybe a piece of 2x4 sistered in at each fencepost to help support it a little so the whole thing doesn't flop over. It will not look very Martha Stewart but is likely to *work* [​IMG]

    Good luck, have fun,

    Pat
     
  10. Feb 23, 2011 #5
    CelticOaksFarm

    CelticOaksFarm Family owned, family run

    12,307
    195
    323
    Sep 7, 2009
    Florida - Space Coast
    Our hens have 6' foot no top rail and stay put easily. 6'x10' is covered in shade cloth. The roo's are with the goats and have standard fence (again no top rail) they all stay in but 1 roo, we clipped his wings to keep him with the other 3.
     
  12. Feb 23, 2011 #6
    Sylverfly

    Sylverfly Songster

    546
    10
    161
    Apr 29, 2009
    Northeastern Michigan
    Hey thanks everyone, I'll think about some different "roofs" I can add on, I think thats the best way to go we have a ton of hawks here, the run I have now has deer fence over the top and I've seen a few hawks hit that and bounce off.
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by