Greetings from Spokane!!

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RedheadinWA

RedheadinWA

In the Brooder
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May 31, 2015
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Spokane, WA
I'm new to chickens, getting 5 pullets this morning & I'm so excited & nervous. 2 RIR & 3 Barred Rock. My chicken run is surrounded by 4ft chain link. Do you think I should clip their flight feathers?
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Congratulations on your new chickens! Most young chickens can get out of a four foot fence pretty easily, so if you let them out of the run, you will probably have to clip them.
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Congrats on your flock! It's totally normal to feel scared and excited! I remembering not being able to sleep the night before getting my flock because I was so excited and nervous! It's all worth it in the end!

Since you are getting more of the plump, heavier breeds, you shouldn't have to worry about them flying. Most chickens don't like flying anyway since all they do is crash! LOL So I think you'll be fine!
 
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Welcome and congratulations on getting your new flock.

I have read all I could find on BYC about the fence height and most experienced folks seem to think 4 feet to be short. Some have reported escapes( even with wings clipped) if a chicken really wants to get to the other side.

If they will be in the run unsupervised make sure you add hardware cloth around the lower 2 feet of the chain link , an apron around the bottom and something over the top to prevent predator loss. Many folks place a pole or support inside the run and attach netting to the fence and center pole(s). That would likely keep hawks out and chickens in and give you head room to enter the run.

You can increase the visible height of the fence with bamboo poles attached to the fence. They will be less likely to try if they perceive it too high without a landing bar on top?

Good luck with your new pullets, have fun.
 
Sunflour has given you excellent advice.
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Even if they didn't fly over a 4 ft. fence, it wouldn't take much for fox, raccoons, coyotes, dogs etc. to jump or climb in and get in with your chickens.
 
Thank you all so much for the warm welcome !! My girls seem to be settling in, already gave me 3 eggs. :-) I did clip the wings & will definitely take the advise about predators. I live in the city so my main worry is the neighbors cat, owls, hawks & those rotten squirrels my neighbor feeds.
 

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