How tall does the run fence need to be?

[MaidMariHen]

My family's building our chicken run, but we don't know how tall the fence should be so the chickens can't escape. Any advice?

 

[DobieLover]

My family's building our chicken run, but we don't know how tall the fence should be so the chickens can't escape. Any advice?

Six feet for standard LF chickens. Games, bantams and lighter breeds can go over 8 feet.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That largely depends on the breed and secondarily how much forage they have inside the fence and the attraction for what is on the other side.
Usually 5-6 foot will keep a lot of breeds in. However, I had a Jersey Giant hen that would go over a 6' fence to get to the tomatoes on the other side.
The breed I raise are known as flighty but unless stressed, they are content inside a 3' fence.

 

[MaidMariHen]

We have two red sexliks, one plymouth rock and two new hampshire x (we think). Will five feet be good enough?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You can always go back and extend it if it isn't. Just put in taller fence posts that would make that easier.

 

[MaidMariHen]

Okay thanks!

 

[David61]

I keep and eye on my girls in the back yard 4' chain link when they free range. I have one that will fly up on the fence and think about it until I fuss at her. My run is netted because of hawks. I see hawks regularly as they hunt squirrels and eyeball the coop.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I have always had a 6 foot tall fence & there was always a heavy breed that could clear it until I put a net over the top.

 

[aart]

Make it tall enough for you to walk in, then cover with mesh.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Before I netted over my run I definitely had hens fly out of our 6' fence, and even came home one day to find one sitting on top of it.