Fence

[dcs02d]

I have 4 hens in my backyard and a run big enough to accommodate them. It's about 50 sq feet.

The chickens are roaming around my backyard and its getting to be a problem as I have small kids and the hens poop everywhere.

I have a large portion of my backyard I can fence off (much larger than the run) and allow them to continue to free range and keep them out of the kids play area.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a fence that is decent looking (maybe a wood picket look) cheap and easy to install that will encourage the hens to stay in their area? Would a 2 or 3 foot high fence be sufficient? I know the hens could jump it if they want to, but so long as they were too lazy to I think it would work.

Thoughts?

Maybe something like this?
http://www.walmart.com/ip/36-Decora...0000003260350&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=10745806

This would probably just be wrong... but has anyone tried a dog fence with shock collar on a chicken. I suspect they are too stupid to learn but hey maybe???

 

[j3707]

I wonder if a chicken could be trained for such a thing...but even aside from that, I think the shock collar would be entirely impractical for a chicken. Too big and heavy plus the contacts would need to be touching chicken skin. Not to mention they'd probably die of a heart attack. At least mine would

I guess the only way you'll really know about the short fence is if you try it. Depends on how lazy the chickens are! I personally wouldn't bother with something that short. Wooden posts with deer netting might fit the bill.

Something like this:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=3831903#p3831903


j3707

Oh yeah, those collars systems ain't cheap.

 

[renrag44]

I keep my chickens off the porch and out of the garden with a 2' plastic webbing fence that I bought at Lowes. It comes in 25' lengths and then I buy some plastic poles that I got at Home Depot for about a dollar apiece. I weave the posts through the fencing material and then stab into the ground. I have 1 australorp, 1 RIR, 1 Sex-link, and 1 EE. The EE is the only one that jumps over occasionally. I have clipped one of their wings but it works pretty good because both my wife and I can step over it. Good Luck

 

[sotelomary]

I've just fenced off a run for my chickens using 4' black welded wire from Home Depot. The roll is 50' and cost $59. My run is narrow and is at the back of a flower bed with a 6' fence in the back. This was the only area that I have since I live in the city and our lots are small. Though I know chickens can physically jump over that height there are plants in front and bamboo against the fence. This creates a barrior and they seem to be happy staying in. I also have kids and couldn't have poop all over the place. My water bill went way up when I was letting them free range all over the yard and then hosing everything off. After the veggie garden went in they had to have a fenced area.

Hope this helps,
Mary

 

[teach1rusl]

I'll tell you what we just bought to keep the chickens out of the garden...deer netting (can be purchased at Lowes). It comes in a roll (usually) that is 100 ft. long and 7 ft. tall. We are cutting ours a bit shorter than that...maybe in half, not sure yet. But it's barely noticeable when it's up, blends in nicely. It is flimsy, so it has to be stretched firm, and you will need some of those green metal posts (we used some round wooden posts too), and some of those landscape fabric pegs/staples/nails to help hold the bottom down a bit. But it's less than $15 for that 100 ft. roll. I think it would be perfect to contain chickens in a certain area.