If one hen figures out how to get out of a fence....

[katelk]

Lately one of my ladies has learned to hop onto the fence around their yard. Usually it has been when I am on the other side of the fence. So far I have put her back or she has gone back herself, but today she actually jumped to the other side and got loose.
Is this going to be trouble now that she knows she can get out?
Will the other hens follow her and learn how to do it too?
Thanks!

 

[chfite]

Mine don't get over the 4 foot fence around my yard. Mature chickens tend to have a lot of trouble flying very high. If she is flying up onto the top of the fence, you could try clipping the flight feathers on one wing.

Chris

 

[creepygothnursi]

The others won't necessarily follow her, but I'd bet she will keep doing it now that she knows she can. It depends on the weight and breed of the bird, but mine can and did easily clear a 4-foot fence, and kept right on doing it despite wing clipping. We ultimately wound up keeping them in a covered run. If you prefer to free-range, it may be that if you clip her wing ASAP it will stop her as it does make them somewhat clumsier. Also make sure there's nothing near the fence she can use as a "ladder" (for example, to jump to the top of a box, then from there to the top of a fence). We had a problem where they were jumping from the top of the coop and using that as leverage to get over. If you nip it in the bud right now there's some hope she may still forget about it.