How to fence in the chicken coop and area..

[mstrader5]

I have a chicken coop and 11 chickens. We are working on getting the fence up for them. They are different Bantam breeds and one Sultan. How tall should the fence be and do we need a top to keep them in? Here is a pic of the coop and we have more than enough room to fence in just need some advice. Thank you!

 

[fischnchix]

I'd make it at least 4ft so the chickens have enough headroom to jump and move inside the run but making it tall enough to stand in is always best and less of a hassle in the long run.

 

[mstrader5]

We bought 4 ft fence, but just wanted to be sure! Thank you!

 

[thomasboyle]

4 foot fence should be high enough to keep them in. If you have a flyer or two who keep getting out, read up on clipping their wings. My experience has been my chickens could easily get over the fence, but they never have reason to, so they stay put. Most people have a top on their run to keep hawks and other critters out, rather than than to keep their chickens in.

 

[Sonya9]

If you have small bantams (such as OEGBs) you should really have netting on top. They not only fly all over but they are hawk bait.

I got 6' tall welded wire (2 x 4") and covered it with avian netting from Amazon. Obviously with netting you want the fence high so you can walk around in the run as needed OR you can use a rope/pole to suspend the netting and attach it to a lower fenceline.

 

[mstrader5]

We do have Bantams and one Sultan. We are putting them in a spot that is covered in a shade tree to hopefully keeps the hawks out. But I like the ideal of the pole in the middle. Thanks!

 

[mstrader5]

Here is a pic of where the chickens will be placed. I am hoping that with the tree hangover they will not only have plenty of shade, but be close enough to the house that predators will stay away. Also, we have a dog that will be outside some during the day and I was told to place a small radio near the pen to keep the coyotes away.
Thank you all for the great advice! I am new to this, but these chickens have already stole my heart! I am a stay at home mom and when the kids are in school, they give me company along with the 3 cats and one dog!

 

[Chemguy]

That looks to be a nice coop and a nice setting. One thing to keep in mind:bantams can fly better than standards, and some chickens are more interested in roosting up high, bantam or not. You might find that some of your flock likes to fly up to the overhanging trees. Because chickens are a flock animal, the rest will surely try to follow. Then, they are full-on free range...they've flown the coop. In a short period of time they can 'drift' from roosting in the coop at night to roosting in the trees at night. I agree with others that placing sturdy netting over the run is a good idea. This will also help to prevent predators from using any overhanging trees as a route into the run area. Hawks like to perch over prey, for example. If you cannot put netting over the run, then at least keep everyone cooped up for a few days once in the new location. But, be ready to address any issues that arise.

Last year, an acquaintance decided to start big with 50 chicks, who would free range. Once the flock could fly (they were all standards), they took to roosting in the trees during the day, and then at night. The whole flock was gone within 2 weeks, and the racoons were very happy until the food ran out.

 

[mstrader5]

Thank you so much! I will definitely be putting netting over the top!

 

[rgunn1]

I got 6' tall welded wire (2 x 4") and covered it with avian netting from Amazon. Obviously with netting you want the fence high so you can walk around in the run as needed OR you can use a rope/pole to suspend the netting and attach it to a lower fenceline.

Can you share the netting that you bought from Amazon? I checked recently and there is a lot to choose from... just looking for a little direction.