HOW are they getting out??

[unspecified42]

I cannot understand how my chickens are getting out!!

They are in an old dog run- surrounded by chain link that is 8' tall and sunk into the ground. There's a dog house in the middle of it (going to convert into a proper coop very soon! They aren't laying yet so it has been adequate for now) that they like to roost on top of- it's about 3.5 feet tall. I have clipped all of their wings, yet they STILL get out! I'll wake up in the morning to find them ranging around my yard. Usually I don't mind- they never go far and alway come back- but I just put down grass seed and I'd like it to have a chance to take root before they eat it all.

Is it possible that they are flying over the top?? I clipped all of their wings and I think I did a good job. I only cut the last 6 inches or so off, not the entire feather. Should I try clipping the other side as well? There's a small possibility that they can push through the bottom corner of the door, but I didn't think chickens would be that willing to push through- they would have to be pushing really hard- do they do that?

Thanks!

 

[RedfogsFlock]

Oh hon we have chickens from 1 week to 9 months, and let me tell ya they always get out! They just go right through the chain link.

I woke up one morning and there were some in with our mean ol rooster! (he doesn't like anyone!!) I was like aaaaaawwwwww!

I go running into his coop, and they all just go woop right back into the other coop through the chain link. I thought how? Their heads can barely fit through the holes, so how do they get their bodies through?

 

[schmism]

you didnt mention how old they are.... if they are still small they may squeeze through the fence.

check the gaps around the fence/posts/gates. even a 3" gap will be huge for young birds.

 

[Tala]

Mine will go through any gap possible - some smaller than you might think!!!! I have one hen in particular she gets into my chicken tractor with the babies!!

They squeezed through where the gate meets up with the side of the house, they squeezed UNDER the fence (none of my DOGS have ever dug out, but the hens? hells yeah!) they figured out the dog door faster than the cats did, they walked right through some fence so I had to attach chicken wire to it, they would struggle to fly up to the edge of the deck with clipped wings (about 3ft up) and grab on with their claws to "walk" onto the deck, squeezing through the deck railing so I had to staple chicken wire to that too.......ESCAPE ARTISTS!

Yours COULD also be flying out still if they fly from the top of the doghouse and then over the fence. I had some Leghorns who still made it over 6ft up with one wing clipped --- had to do both sides so now they can't get higher than about 3ft.

 

[danielle82]

I vote jumping over

 

[unspecified42]

Quote:
Oh, yeah, sorry! They're about 5 months old.

I think I'll try clipping the other side of their wings...darn buggers!!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I've seen mine "walk" up the fence by climbing and flapping their wings

 

[tammyd57]

Chickens can get out even if they didn't have wings. They're probably hopping up on top of the doghouse, then to the top of the fence, then right over.
Try getting up earlier than they do one morning and watch, you'll see exactly how they do it.

 

[rainnotebook]

I'm sure that will be pretty interesting to find out!