How high does the run need to be?

[Chris623]

Frankly, I think I'm going to lose my mind over these darned chickens!!!!!

I built a beautiful coop and overly protected run. But frankly, they needed more space. I figured the run would be adequate because I planned on free ranging. Well, I live in the woods and the reality of the matter is I've lost 8 chickens to predators.

Just couldn't keep the ladies at home!!!!! So I built a pen. 4' fence to start with...............but they all hopped over that with no problem.

Then I got 4' rebar and bent a 45 degree angle 6" from the bottom of each bar and attached them to my T-posts. Covered that with plastic netting. They got on top of the coop and flew over the netting.

Guess I'm just going to have to clip wings.

 

[PandoraTaylor]

My run is 6' and I stll have hens that fly out, so I covered it.....and I still have one that gets out by the gate as there is a small uncover section there. Found her on top of the 7' hen house....
So I clip wings, as there are many things that will attack them if given a chance..

 

[pattyberg]

I have a 6 foot fence and they fly out all the time. So I leave the gate open during the day, as they will all be out anyway.

 

[Misty Oak Ranch]

We finally had to cover our run. Had it at four feet, and every one of them would just fly over it. I was working on the roof and our SLW rooster flew up to the top of the 6' wall like nothing. It was truly aggrevating to have them continuously getting out when we didn't want them loose.

 

[Momo]

If you have a rail along the top of your fence the chickens will be much more likely to fly out, because they will fly up and perch on the rail and then hop down on the other side. Wire mesh, on the other hand, is not perchable on-edge so it keeps them in better. But it still depends on the chicken. I watched my hefty EE rooster clear the 6' fence from a standing start at the base. Mind you, I was trying to catch him at the time so he was feeling motivated. He's never been over it since then.

 

[wing it]

the one i am building now is 8 ft tall 1/2 inch hardware cloth to 4 ft and chickhen wire above that . also plan to roof it when a can,but thats not in the buget at the moment