How do keep my chickens in my run? One got out and something killed it...

[Bella the Chicken Lover]

I've clipped my chickens wings but my leghorns get out. The fence is 6 feet high but they keep escaping, and one got killed. Is there anyway I can keep my chickens in? I would cover the top up so the run is completely enclosed, but we have our orchard trees in there. Any suggestions? Thank you so much in advance.

Also, if anybody could perhaps identify what got my chicken, that may be helpful.... this is the second time in one month and I think some animal is starting to like the taste of my chickens...

Spoiler: Picture

 

[StinkyAcres]

What kind of fence and does it have a solid top rail? Adding to the top might be the only way to go. Maybe you could try something like this? https://www.amazon.com/s?k=angled+p...=angled+post+extender,aps,96&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

 

[StinkyAcres]

does it have a solid top rail?

I ask because chickens are much more likely to go over a fence if it has something to easily perch on at the top.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I've clipped my chickens wings but my leghorns get out. The fence is 6 feet high but they keep escaping, and one got killed. Is there anyway I can keep my chickens in? I would cover the top up so the run is completely enclosed, but we have our orchard trees in there. Any suggestions? Thank you so much in advance.

Also, if anybody could perhaps identify what got my chicken, that may be helpful.... this is the second time in one month and I think some animal is starting to like the taste of my chickens...

Spoiler: Picture

View attachment 3978442

We can only guess, but I'm guessing a dog (wild or not). What predators are expected in your general area?

 

[bill3607]

It could possibly be a opossum from the looks of it.

Edit to add: You could try trapping whatever it is if you have a trap. If you don't close the top you are still going to loose chickens at times with that open run. Pretty much anything can get in with no top.

 

[gtaus]

I've clipped my chickens wings but my leghorns get out. The fence is 6 feet high but they keep escaping, and one got killed. Is there anyway I can keep my chickens in? I would cover the top up so the run is completely enclosed, but we have our orchard trees in there. Any suggestions?

I use bird netting on top of my chicken run fencing. Bird netting is pretty cheap, and you can get just about any size you need on Amazon. I get my bird netting locally from our Fleet store.

If you have trees inside your chicken run, you could run the bird netting up to and around the trees. You might have to cut the bird netting to go around the trees, but it's easy to cut. Then just use some zip ties to stitch it back together again.

I have 3 sections in my run and just use the zip ties to fasten them together and on to the main fencing as well. Works great. Depending on the size of your chicken run, you might need additional supports to prevent excessive sagging. The bird netting is not a solid wire, it's just light rope, but it has kept my chickens in the run for 4+ years.

Just wondering, when you clip the wings of the birds, do you clip both wings or just one wing? I watched a YouTube video, and the guy said that you should only clip one wing of the chicken. Then, when they try to fly, they are off balance and cannot get a good flight. If you clip both wings, the chicken is still able to fly but just with more effort. I use bird netting on top of my fencing, so I have never bothered with clipping wings.

Also, if anybody could perhaps identify what got my chicken, that may be helpful.... this is the second time in one month and I think some animal is starting to like the taste of my chickens...

Spoiler: Picture

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Doesn't everybody like a chicken dinner? No doubt they will be back if they think an easy dinner is on the table. I don't know what killed your chicken, but by the looks of it, it was not too hungry. Probably a local pet dog that got out and about. Too bad for your loss. Hope you find a way to keep your birds inside the run.

 

[Bella the Chicken Lover]

What kind of fence and does it have a solid top rail? Adding to the top might be the only way to go. Maybe you could try something like this? https://www.amazon.com/s?k=angled+post+extender&crid=2DKE8QW425OKY&sprefix=angled+post+extender,aps,96&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

We have a wire fencing so I don't know if that'll work

 

[Bella the Chicken Lover]

I ask because chickens are much more likely to go over a fence if it has something to easily perch on at the top.

That would make sense. We do have a gate that I see them perching on a lot... Should extend the hight of the gate but with wire?

 

[Bella the Chicken Lover]

We can only guess, but I'm guessing a dog (wild or not). What predators are expected in your general area?

We do have a Berenedoodle... she did get a chicken a while ago, but she didn't eat it, she just punctured it. We have foes, raccoons, and opossums.

 

[Bella the Chicken Lover]

I use bird netting on top of my chicken run fencing. Bird netting is pretty cheap, and you can get just about any size you need on Amazon. I get my bird netting locally from our Fleet store.

If you have trees inside your chicken run, you could run the bird netting up to and around the trees. You might have to cut the bird netting to go around the trees, but it's easy to cut. Then just use some zip ties to stitch it back together again.

I have 3 sections in my run and just use the zip ties to fasten them together and on to the main fencing as well. Works great. Depending on the size of your chicken run, you might need additional supports to prevent excessive sagging. The bird netting is not a solid wire, it's just light rope, but it has kept my chickens in the run for 4+ years.

Just wondering, when you clip the wings of the birds, do you clip both wings or just one wing? I watched a YouTube video, and the guy said that you should only clip one wing of the chicken. Then, when they try to fly, they are off balance and cannot get a good flight. If you clip both wings, the chicken is still able to fly but just with more effort. I use bird netting on top of my fencing, so I have never bothered with clipping wings.



Doesn't everybody like a chicken dinner? No doubt they will be back if they think an easy dinner is on the table. I don't know what killed your chicken, but by the looks of it, it was not too hungry. Probably a local pet dog that got out and about. Too bad for your loss. Hope you find a way to keep your birds inside the run.

We have been clipping both of the wings... That makes so much sense, thank you. If that doesn't work, I will have to try bird netting because I can't keep losing chickens like this

Thank you