How high can Barred Rocks fly?

[deserthomestead]

I've got 20 BRs - most of them are 10 weeks old, and 3 of them are about 12 weeks old. A few of them keep escaping from their run! DH is building a better door that will fit the gap exactly - right now I have a gate in use as the door. Can they get over a 4 ft door?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Rocks are supposed to be thick and heavy birds. Not all hatchery stock is oriented this way. It also takes awhile for them to gain their heft. While they are young, they can gain some "air", but they aren't a particularly flighty breed. Chickens also like to launch off a roost or the top of a shade or other structure. In other words, if they start out 3 feet off the ground, vaulting over the next height of 5 feet is much easier.

I don't think a 4' door is high enough in any case.

 

[deserthomestead]

Thank you! Some of them (the ones at the bottom of the pecking order) are still pretty darn small and light. After looking again half an hour ago, I realized the little ones may be squeezing through holes in the fence... silly birds.

Don't they know all the good stuff is INSIDE their run?! I'm in the desert, for crying out loud. There is literally NOTHING to forage for in the rest of the yard!