Is it at all possible to contain chickens with a 3.5 foot fence?

[CorinneK]

I have 6 chickens I've been keeping in my backyard for a few months now. Their coop is in a run with 6 foot fencing, but I have been leaving the run gate open so they can free range throughout the yard. My yard itself only has 3.5 feet chain link fencing, which hadn't been a problem until this week. A few days ago, 2 of them managed to get into a neighbor's yard. I was able to retrieve them and went around removing all the foliage that I thought they could have used to get up and over. I haven't seen them get any amount of lift so I figured that would be enough. Today though, my other neighbor approached me and let me know that he saw them jump into his yard, and he put them back. For now I have them confined in their run, but if at all possible I'd like to be able to let them out again at some point.

I know clipping their wings only helps for about 5 feet, so that probably won't do much. My mom offered to let me have some electric fencing she's not using, but I feel like they'd just jump that too. Am I just gonna have to resign myself to keeping them in the run?

 

[HappyClucker7]

Can't you add some extra netting or wire to the top of the fence? It won't have to be too much extra if you clip their wings.

 

[ShannonR]

I have 6 chickens I've been keeping in my backyard for a few months now. Their coop is in a run with 6 foot fencing, but I have been leaving the run gate open so they can free range throughout the yard. My yard itself only has 3.5 feet chain link fencing, which hadn't been a problem until this week. A few days ago, 2 of them managed to get into a neighbor's yard. I was able to retrieve them and went around removing all the foliage that I thought they could have used to get up and over. I haven't seen them get any amount of lift so I figured that would be enough. Today though, my other neighbor approached me and let me know that he saw them jump into his yard, and he put them back. For now I have them confined in their run, but if at all possible I'd like to be able to let them out again at some point.

I know clipping their wings only helps for about 5 feet, so that probably won't do much. My mom offered to let me have some electric fencing she's not using, but I feel like they'd just jump that too. Am I just gonna have to resign myself to keeping them in the run?

3.5 feet will never contain them. Especially now that they know they can get out!

 

[CorinneK]

3.5 feet will never contain them. Especially now that they know they can get out!

Dang. That's what I was afraid of! Oh well. I was definitely prepared that this could be a possibility, just disappointed.

 

[CorinneK]

Can't you add some extra netting or wire to the top of the fence? It won't have to be too much extra if you clip their wings.

I could, but I have a corner lot and I'm worried it would look ugly. We don't have an HOA or anything but I like my neighbors alright and I don't want to do anything to irritate them.