How high can they fly?

[Downshifting]

Can large fowl birds...Orpingtons, RIR, Barred Rocks, etc...fly over a 4 ft fence when they are full grown/egg layin' age?

 

[4luvofchickens]

Yes. My barred rocks have flown over a 6 FT. fence.

 

[colada584]

Yep, my BR's have also flown over a 6 foot fence

 

[Crack N' Egg]

My heavier weighted birds like the ones you mentioned have a hard time flying up. They usually run and hop with their wings spread, but I never saw them fly upwards. They are too plump!

I have a white leghorn that can fly quite a distance and pretty high and some wyandottes that are light on their feet as well. But it is difficult for them. I think you should be ok with a 4 ft. I'd be more worried about things coming in then them going out!

 

[chics in the sun]

Once my Barred Rock is over the 4-foot fence, the PR (similar to and RIR) is right behind her. I clipped their wings, and it also became less of an issue once they got - well - 'thicker'. The BR did go over just two days ago, though, so I guess it's time for clipping again.

 

[NellaBean]

Yes. They can if they want to at least..........whether they actually will or not depends on what is on the other side of the fence.

My entire property is fenced with 4 foot goat fencing. All my girls can go over it if they want to, clipped wings or not. They generally do not.

 

[mdbokc]

My RIR and Golden Comets "fly" (flapping and all from a dead stop) to the top of the chain link fence. Then they sit there for a minute or so before jumping off. They can "fly" over a 6 footer too if they really want to.

NellaBean is right. It is about how bad they want to get to the other side. Mine won't cross a fence, even the 4 footers, unless there is mowing on the other side. They always go where there is mowing taking place.

 

[VA Lady]

These are pics of my biggest hen (although I only have 3!) around 10-12 feet up a tree she flew into from the chicken run area - she hasn't done it lately because she tends to go right by it instead (she's only around 5-6 months old too). The others can fly right out of the run (about 4 ft high) if they want too but it isn't as easy for them and I doubt they would have thought of it if they hadn't seen her do it first.

 

[Downshifting]

I was afraid of that. I plan to give them supervised range time in my back yard...which is fenced with a 4-ft high picket fence. It would not be a good thing for me to be chasing a rogue bird down the street in my suburban neighborhood...so I am trying to decide if a large sheet of avian netting over part of the back yard would be a good idea. It's starting to sound so. During unsupervised times, they will have a coop and run of the Fort Knox type to hang out in.

 

[chics in the sun]

Once I clipped their wings and they got to laying age, it really wasn't a problem anymore. I let them free range when I am home, but I don't stay out there with them. I doubt there is much to attract them to flying over to the street. Mine usually flew over to the neighbors yard, I think when they saw lizards or bugs over there. Plus when they did go over, they rarely ever wandered further than a few feet from the fence. Only once did they fly into the alley behind my house and go on an adventure into the other neighbors yard where I couldn't see them. I think they decided it was scary and never did it again. They also used to freak out when they decided they wanted back into the yard and frantically stick their necks through the holes in the chain link, as though suddenly they would be able to shrink down small enough to fit through a three inch hole. They never did figure out that they could fly BACK over the fence into their own yard....... sigh.