"Invisible Fence" for chickens

[aoxa]

If you can afford a whole bunch of shock collars a few rolls of chicken wire and a bunch of posts should be no problem. Even better would be a portable electric fence to move around periodically. That would offer some predator protection at least. My birdhave never gone more than 500 feet from the coop. I worry much more about a random animal coming into the yard then the birds "running away".

Never had one run away! They like to stay within view of the coop most times. Some travel right to the property line, but don't go much further. Someone tell me how to get my rooster off my deck.

My geese were on there last night as well. They like to remind me that they know where I live.

 

[canesisters]

I would think that the problem with collars on chickens might be the collar itself. Chickens' necks are much different than dogs and cats.. you would never consider picking up a chick by it's head and lugging it around but that's often how a mother cat carries her kittens. Also, their crops are rather sensitive to upset/damage and I would be afraid that a couple of jolts just might lead to more trouble than expected.

I think the ideas of tractors or movable runs would work great. Have you looked at the 'hoop coop' ideas made out of PVC? Light enough to be easily moved even if it's HUGE. IF they're in a coop at night, maybe you could make it part of their day to race to the run for their morning treat. Once they're all in and munching, close the door and let them be for a few hours - or till time to go back to the coop.

By the way axoa - your rooster is gorgeous!

 

[PeepsAreForMe]

Our chickens fly over our 4 foot fence also. We were such newbies when we put it up. My husband suggested putting tiny weights around their ankles so they can't fly up and perch on the fence! We got a good laugh out of that.

 

[aggiemae]

Chicken tractors? It is sort just control free ranging.

I have two "hoop" tractors made with chicken wire cedar 1"x3''s and PVC that fit on top of out raised beds. Ours are 4X6 and so light weight that I can easily move them by myself. They could be much longer and probably 5' wide and still be picked up and moved by two people. I found the instructions on the Internet. One tip though, the clips to attach the wire (or plastic for making cold frames) to the hoops is pricy but you can make your own by cutting a piece of pipe that is one size lager than the hoops into 1/2 inch slices and clipping about 1/4 inch away from the rings to form an opening that fits snuggly around the hoops. You could also use zip ties but the completed frame wouldn't be a rigid and harder to move. Ours has small door on one end.

The only down side to this system we have found is that it's detached from the coop and NOT predator proof so if you arrive home after dark the hens will be asleep and it's difficult to get them to go into the coop. It only took one time for us to remember to put them back into the yard before we leave if we think we might not be back home before dark..

 

[aoxa]

I have two  "hoop"  tractors  made with chicken wire cedar 1"x3''s and PVC that fit on top of out raised beds. Ours are 4X6 and so light weight that I can easily move them by myself. They could be much longer and probably 5' wide and still be picked up and moved by two people. I found the instructions on the Internet. One tip though, the clips to attach the  wire (or plastic for making cold frames) to the hoops is pricy but you can make your own by cutting a piece of pipe that is one size lager than the hoops into 1/2 inch slices and clipping about 1/4 inch away from the rings  to form an opening that fits snuggly around the hoops. You could also  use zip ties but the completed frame wouldn't be a rigid and harder to move. Ours has small door on one end.

The only down side to this system we have found  is that it's detached  from the coop and NOT predator proof so if  you arrive home after dark the hens will be asleep and it's difficult to get them to go into the coop. It only took one time for us to remember  to put them back into the yard before we leave if we think we might not be back  home before dark..

Do they dig UNDER the hoop? WE were thinking about this form of coop for our extra roosters. We do have an LGD, but how do they get into it?

 

[PFSfarmer]

I will agree with most here portable chicken run/chicken tractor set up. Does not cost much and can be moved easily. If you want to get real creative put a floor on part with a divider wall that has a door, put it on wheels and back up the floored part to the coop every night so they can go right in and out when you move it.

I know it is not funny, but a friend of mine had a pug dog that would bark all day at anything even its own shadow. They got a barking shock collar for it and for the first time in my life I seen a pug dog rodeo!!! Have you thought about if you do go the shock collar route and they make it past the under ground wire they may not come back across because it is shocking them? It might be neat if it worked, but you might also end up with electrically fried chicken for dinner.

 

[Abby11182]

aggiemae - where did you find the directions for your hoop run? Could you post a picture?

 

[aoxa]

aggiemae - where did you find the directions for your hoop run?  Could you post a picture?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/172799/our-hoop-house-chicken-tractor
This is a great thread - and I just LOVE their hoop coop.

 

[aggiemae]

Our vegetable garden is in our front and side yard and isn't fenced. They don't dig under as long as there is lots of stuff to scratch around in. Plus they are inside the raised bed frames so really can't dig out.


The base is a frame of cedar boards with reinforced corners. There is a small hinged door on one end made out of a piece of fence board fitted into a frame that I made out of made of 1x2's and attached to the main frame on the bottom and the hoop on the top. I have shade cloth covers as our garden beds are out in full southern exposure. I lead the hens out of the yard into the garden area and toss some fruit or oats in and they hop right in to get their treat. at dusk I open the door and they head right for the coop. The 4x6 size is comfortable and keeps two or three hens busy for most of a day, In our case they are either digging up spent plants and weeds and eating bugs or digging in new compost and eating bugs.

I can't seem to load pictures but will try again later.

But it looks like this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/711831/low-cost-solutions-for-chickens#post_9707654 except round on top and only 30" high: I used plastic fencing recycled fence boards and got the pipe ( I think it's one inch) at Habitat, it bends pretty easily if you leave it out in the sun so spent about $30.00 to build two of them. I usually put the hens out in it after they lay but you could make a nice nest box out of a five gallon bucket.

On a side note I wouldn't use a shock collar/electric fence on a chicken, it would be too hard on their little hearts.

 

[Eggcessive]

I use 42 inch high electric poultry netting for fencing. I also have 4 ft. chainlink which the pullets can fly over easily, but since the chickens can't perch on top they don't fly over it. I don't electrify this fencing, so you can save money on fence chargers. Premier sells this online which is pricey, but you can move it around, take it down and store it, then put it back up.