High enough Fencing?

ChickenDude12345

Songster
Jun 16, 2021
367
402
141
Northern NH
So I am thinking about getting electric poultry netting. I have black Australorps, Rhode Island reds, and buff Orpingtons. Would a 42 inch fence contain all of them or would I need a 48 inch. I have coyotes in my area and dogs that like to kill birds. Would that 42 in be high enough?
 
So I am thinking about getting electric poultry netting. I have black Australorps, Rhode Island reds, and buff Orpingtons. Would a 42 inch fence contain all of them or would I need a 48 inch. I have coyotes in my area and dogs that like to kill birds. Would that 42 in be high enough?
Recommend the higher the better. 5 ft non-electric wasn't enough to keep an unknown predator (probably a dog by the number of birds killed in broad daylight in a short period of time) from jumping my fence. Plus it's surprising how high chickens can jump fly when they get scared. My grass catcher scared one the other day and she flew out of my 48 inch electric netting fence (not the first one to do so). Luckily she desperately wanted back in 😄
 
Last edited:
Recommend the higher the better. 5 ft non-electric wasn't enough to keep an unknown predator (probably a dog by the number of birds killed in broad daylight in a short period of time) from jumping my fence. Plus it's surprising how high chickens can jump fly when they get scared. My grass catcher scared one the other day and she flew out of my 48 inch electric netting fence (not the first one to do so). Luckily she desperately wanted back in 😄
Recommend the higher the better. 5 ft non-electric wasn't enough to keep an unknown predator (probably a dog by the number of birds killed in broad daylight in a short period of time) from jumping my fence. Plus it's surprising how high chickens can jump fly when they get scared. My grass catcher scared one the other day and she flew out of my 48 inch electric netting fence (not the first one to do so). Luckily she desperately wanted back in 😄
ok I will get the 48 inch
 
Recommend the higher the better. 5 ft non-electric wasn't enough to keep an unknown predator (probably a dog by the number of birds killed in broad daylight in a short period of time) from jumping my fence. Plus it's surprising how high chickens can jump fly when they get scared. My grass catcher scared one the other day and she flew out of my 48 inch electric netting fence (not the first one to do so). Luckily she desperately wanted back in 😄

ok I will get the 48 inch
I've kept out two 100 lb German Shepherds and a 300 lb black bear with a 42" fence. It's rare that a predator will just take a flying leap over the fence. They come up and sniff it first. Or try to bite it. THAT'S when they realize the fence is something to avoid as they are running as fast as they can in the opposite direction.
 
I've kept out two 100 lb German Shepherds and a 300 lb black bear with a 42" fence. It's rare that a predator will just take a flying leap over the fence. They come up and sniff it first. Or try to bite it. THAT'S when they realize the fence is something to avoid as they are running as fast as they can in the opposite direction.
Yea that’s true.
 
I've kept out two 100 lb German Shepherds and a 300 lb black bear with a 42" fence. It's rare that a predator will just take a flying leap over the fence. They come up and sniff it first. Or try to bite it. THAT'S when they realize the fence is something to avoid as they are running as fast as they can in the opposite direction.
I don't disagree with what you are saying. I have yet to see brown bears ...jump 42 inch fences, but I have seen my chickens do it. I still recommend the higher fence as much to keep my hens in as to keep predators out. Admittedly the predators that are willing to jump electric fences would probably just run over it and be done with it.
 
I have several chickens who are capable of getting out of the 48". A California White who flies like a helicopter goes out and comes back in anything she wants to. Some others have gotten their wings clipped recently.

It's funny that, except for Chipotle the CW, when they find themselves outside the fence they're then desperate to get back in -- but can't figure out how.
 
I have several chickens who are capable of getting out of the 48". A California White who flies like a helicopter goes out and comes back in anything she wants to. Some others have gotten their wings clipped recently.

It's funny that, except for Chipotle the CW, when they find themselves outside the fence they're then desperate to get back in -- but can't figure out how.
Me either. I have to open the gate and show them the way back in. But I find the 48 inch less jumpable by my heavier hens. I'm just waiting to see if my geese will make a run for it. They practice taxiing every day 😁. My Pekin drake has no chance...but he practices his taxi style every day alongside the geese. It's funny watching cause the geese actually leave the ground...
 
Last edited:

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom