I had my first chicken death. Questions about fence height

[Fluffnut]

I'm so sorry! I would add netting over the top; it's cheap and it works. Also consider wing clipping.
To edit there's normally a little pencil and a tiny "edit" marking at the bottom of your post, along with a little x and a 'delete' sign.

 

[Rooster_Tyranny]

Sorry for your loss.

Yes it is normal for them to clear even a six foot fence.

I have found my weirdo buff Orpington trying to roost on a thin garden trellis six feet up a few times. That wire is only a quarter inch in diameter.

You should look at putting at least bird netting over your run. It will help keep hawks out and chickens in but won't stop coons or fox.

A question that popped into my mind is, how can you make it so you can stand straight when putting netting over the top? I'm 5'7 so if I put some netting over the fence I'd have to duck my head, do you use poles or something.

Thanks again. And maybe I'm being paranoid but that question wasn't supposed to be "challenging" or "imposing". Communicating over text is hard!

 

[21hens-incharge]

A question that popped into my mind is, how can you make it so you can stand straight when putting netting over the top? I'm 5'7 so if I put some netting over the fence I'd have to duck my head, do you use poles or something.

Thanks again. And maybe I'm being paranoid but that question wasn't supposed to be "challenging" or "imposing". Communicating over text is hard!

My run was built with a 2x6 base, 6' chain link attached to that making it 6'3" from ground to top of chain link then chain link top rail. We then used 2x4's to build a framework above the top rail and wire on top of that.
The inside height is 6'3" so anyone taller than that better duck.

 

[21hens-incharge]

A question that popped into my mind is, how can you make it so you can stand straight when putting netting over the top? I'm 5'7 so if I put some netting over the fence I'd have to duck my head, do you use poles or something.

Thanks again. And maybe I'm being paranoid but that question wasn't supposed to be "challenging" or "imposing". Communicating over text is hard!

For netting poles can work.

If you take 8' poles and attach a 2x4 12 to 18" long on 2 sides making a T shape it works like a circus tent pole. Putting the posts into 5 gallon buckets of cement should keep them upright.

With your shorter fence the poles would still make it tall enough to walk in.

Might have some brain bending work to do on the gate area.

 

[cmom]

A question that popped into my mind is, how can you make it so you can stand straight when putting netting over the top? I'm 5'7 so if I put some netting over the fence I'd have to duck my head, do you use poles or something.

Thanks again. And maybe I'm being paranoid but that question wasn't supposed to be "challenging" or "imposing". Communicating over text is hard!

When I first put my netting up it wasn't easy, in total my pens are 200 feet x 60 feet. I started and one end went across one pen at a time.

For netting poles can work.

If you take 8' poles and attach a 2x4 12 to 18" long on 2 sides making a T shape it works like a circus tent pole. Putting the posts into 5 gallon buckets of cement should keep them upright.

With your shorter fence the poles would still make it tall enough to walk in.

Might have some brain bending work to do on the gate area.

My fences are 5 foot high, I put poles I made out of 8 foot 1x2's with approximately an 8 inch piece screwed into one end and use it to hold the netting up so I can walk under it. My pens to my coops are fairly large 20 feet x 60 feet so I pushed them into the ground a bit. This is just what I do.

 

[cmom]

Thank you!! Where would you put the rope? I assume on the top of the fence?


I'm not exactly sure why you're telling me this but thank you nonetheless! That's a pretty great set up. Getting into there must seem like breaking into a maximum security -prison- sanctuary for those pesky predators!

Edit: How the heck do you cross things out?

I have lost birds in the past and it breaks my heart when I have lost them so I made my pens and coops like fort knox. I recently lost 3 birds, one was very special. I hadn't lost any birds for many years until recently. I see predators most every night on the game cameras that I have set up on my property. Mostly coyotes and fox at night.