How high can chickens jump/fly?

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When I used to have Golden Campines, they flew over my 8 foot high fence without batting an eye. It was a little like trying to have a sparrow for a pet. Or a wild duck.

They would clear the fence AND fly over to the forest in one flight.

They were absolutely wonderful birds though. I wish I could have kept them.
 
hoovert,

This is a very much a function of breed question. My game roosters can power up 20 feet to a power line for a bout of crowing and dominiques can do nearly 8 feet for same purpose. Hens of each breed, when motivated, can do better. You will likely have a grace period where hens at least will not fly to top of a 6 foot fence but eventually one will. Then what side will she come down on? Once she comes down on outside, she will likely repeat and others ultimately will follow unless of heavier breeds or clipped.
 
One of my EE's got out of the pen about a week after I got her. She was about 6 months old. She flew about 50 yards and ended up about 25 feet high in a large tree.

Was no problem for her.
 
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I have all kinds of chickens. Heavy orpingtons, light leghorns, flighty americauna, fancy red-laced-blue wyandottes, and even mini serama - and everything in between! I love having variety.

I know for certain every single on of my birds can fly to 4'. This is because my roosting bars are 4' high, every single bird flies this high everynight!
4' is not enough for most breeds

So, I also wondered how high can they go... I put a lone roosting bar 6' high - and there was poop on it the next day.

The highest ive ever seen - and I still havent figured out how - was 10' !!!! There was an Australorp on the roof of the garage, 10' eaves at the lowest point! I would call anyone a liar for saying so - but I seen it with my own eyes.

I have a 6' 2x4 welded-wire fence, with no top 'rim' or top bar. This prevents the chickens from having a landing spot to aim for. Do not run lumber horizontally across the top of the fence unless you intent to see birds attempting to fly up (and over) to roost on it.

I built a 100% enclosed 14x10x8high run which they have 24hr access. I predator proofed it with 12" solid tin base fence and hardware cloth to 3' - then chicken wire wall/ tin roof. Chicken Alcatraz.

I experimented with 7' bird netting temporary fencing and found it to be ample height for most my birds. No one escaped over it, but there was ample room to forage (no need for them to try to fly out).

After last years research Im putting in a 20' x 50' 6' welded wire run (12ga, 2x4mesh, t-post) to allow day ranging - locked into Alcatraz & Coop at night.

Deer Netting / FruitTree Netting is also a very cheap way to add "flight height" protection to an existing perimeter fence. Offers no predator protection.

Post placement is important. It is best to place the post on the same side of the fence as the animals you wish to keep from climbing it. Since Chicken usually don't climb vertical posts, I have found it best to put all vertical posts on the contained chicken side of the fence, this way predators on the outside can't climb the post. NOTE: horizontal cross bars on your Fence provide places for chickens to roost or fly from.

Warning: Lihtweight birds - such as gamefowl, bantams, and serama can easily top over 10' high!

Any questions?
 
Last edited:
I have a few Americana hens that I would like to put in a movable fenced area in my backyard. If I clip their wings, will they still jump a 2 ft fence with no top rail? Barbara
 

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