is my garden fencing enough for some chicken-roaming?

[wannabe4birds]

Due to limited backyard space, I'll have to put my coop into the veg garden (which is only around 40X35'). The wire fencing is only 3' high, so I'm guessing chickens would have no problem hopping onto/over this? I have tons of plastic mesh (I've used for protecting fruit trees, mostly) I could attach to the upper parts of the fence's 7'-tall poles, but ..... that would most likely be a potential disaster for all the standard birds I have in/around my yard. And, would it also possibly entangle chickens? If that's the case, would I have to just add more wiring above the fencing already there, and .... would basic old chicken wire work in that case?

Lots of "and"s; sorry. Thx for any feedback/anecdotes/recommendations ......

Oh yeah: I would only let the poultry wander around the garden (or part of it, sectioned off) for some times when I'm out in the yard. I probably wouldn't leave the property with them out there -- too much potential for hawk attacks.

 

[SueT]

Do you mean stiff plastic mesh? That should be fine.... Or bird netting? If the chickens can see it, I don't think they would fly into it. I have bird netting over my run and the wild birds fly under it thru the wire mesh on the sides of the run to get chicken feed. They can see the netting and not get caught in it.

 

[Mrs Ugh]

I am far from an expert, but I bought some bright orange 1/4" rope and wove it back and forth across the top of my run to keep the chickens in and deter the hawks. I used the netting when they were chicks they did get caught in it if it fell. I do not have a good relationship with the bird netting!