Fencing 200' away from the coop

[Shamo Hybrid]

We've been asked to keep them indoors as she isn't paying for bird seed for our chickens.

Wow..... did she really say that? That's pretty rude if you ask me.

 

[BrianV]

Wow..... did she really say that? That's pretty rude if you ask me.

She did say that, but I didn't take it as rude. I tend to agree with her; I'd feel the same - bird seed isn't cheap!

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

She did say that, but I didn't take it as rude. I tend to agree with her; I'd feel the same - bird seed isn't cheap!

Well, she could have word it differently. Anyway, you should just use black netting...... at Lowe's they sell a roll of 7' x 100' roll of netting for $20 or so, that should save you money. Just buy some stakes and you're good to go.

 

[aart]

standard field fencing

What is the mesh size of this?

 

[Folly's place]

I have goat fencing, which is 4"x4" woven wire fencing, on steel posts, with electric on the top. We installed it about 4" to 6" above ground level, so leaves and stuff didn't pile against it, and so that smaller critters could go under, and to keep it from rusting out at the bottom. If you give it 4" ground clearance, your birds won't go under it. Over the top is possible, but as others have said, with less incentive, they likely won't. My total fence height, including that electric rope topper, is five feet.
You would need wood corner post assemblies, and a wood bracing assembly in the center of that span, at least.
More expensive than electric, but less management issues. I can't imagine redoing netting!
Field fencing is 6" x 6", and many birds will go through it.
Mary

 

[cholland]

I have one bird that flys over a 7' fence occasionally. I keep my chickens in with 4' high 2x4 welded wire and then put 3 more feet of chicken wire above that. It's lightweight and less expensive. I zip tie lengths of pvc to every other fence post to hang the chicken wire on. It's not as tight as the lower portion but it doesn't need to be.
I prefer wire over poly netting, I have had birds get tangled in the netting if they try to fly into it.

 

[Toothpick]

I thought i was safe with 5’. Nope. I then added 15 inches high of netting - wrong again. A few just fly to the top of the netting and land on it, squishing it down and then jump out.

Maybe you can reason with your neighbor and try a few things before you invest in a 10ft wide moat. Buy them (your neighbors) a couple bags of bird food and tell them you’d like to see if you can keep them (the chickens) on your side before investing in a fence. They are going over there because they know there is ample food. Like others have said, give them what they want on your property. See if that works.

 

[ToniTalley]

Buy most or even all their birdseed and share your eggs with your neighbors. Maybe that would work. Also put up some seed stations away from their property to encourage the chooks to stay in their own yard.