Has anyone else ever witnessed chickens climbing a fence?

[Ruby Rogue]

I was putting some kitchen scraps inside one of my runs, where the 'grown up's' usually are, while they were free ranging. My 10 week olds followed me inside and helped themselves to the treats. I left the area, gate still open. The grown ups scared the little ones off the food, and it was the most hilarious thing I've ever seen. One by one, the 4 little (pretty big, really) chickens climbed the chain link fence to escape the big guys. All but 1 escaped this way, the 5th little girl needed me to rescue her.

I've used this fence for lots of birds, I've had problems with birds flying over the 6 foot fence but I've never witnessed them literally climbing the fence with their little chicken feet.

Has anyone else ever seen anything like this?

 

[ABBandit]

yep, most poultry livestock will do this. They'll climb it while flapping their wings till they make it over, or get too tired and give up.

 

[Ruby Rogue]

yep, most poultry livestock will do this. They'll climb it while flapping their wings till they make it over, or get too tired and give up.

Thanks! That's exactly what they were doing, it was so cute.

 

[Oncoming Storm]

No???? But I’ve had chickens in low hanging branches. That’s hilarious!

 

[centrarchid]

Clambering. Legs provide lift while wings used to provide balance. I make use of the ability to get chicks to roost up earlier than possible if flight only used to get up not feasible.

 

[lovesfarms]

She walked up this umbrella handle and pecked at that piece of tape. She is exceptionally agile and I've seen her grasp more often with her feet

 

[RainbowHen]

Oh yes! I happily installed a 7 foot fence for my old flock only to watch them clamber right up and over it *sigh*

 

[centrarchid]

Chick below clambering up a near vertical surface. They can do vertical with very little practice. I have multiple broods roosting on 5 foot tall pens that get up in same manner until able to fly straight up.

 

[aart]

Yep, have seen it, clambering up chicken wire divider wall in coop...good thing I was right there too because chick got leg caught and needed help getting out.

 

[centrarchid]

Yep, have seen it, clambering up chicken wire divider wall in coop...good thing I was right there too because chick got leg caught and needed help getting out.

I have close to sixty birds do it every evening for almost 2 months. Revisit materials your birds come in contact with. Mine have plastic gutter guard tightly bound to pieces of plywood. Whatever you are using, trash it.