Keeping hens inside the electric fence

[azelgin]

Have I convinced anyone that "Your animals are roaming on other folks' property, and that's not okay. Ever." does have exceptions? If I haven't I don't care, btw. I came for help in keeping my birds inside the fence.

Nothing to do with picking a side, but this is certainly true. This forum has members from all states and many countries. You can't make a blanket statement, based on personal opinion, or, the accepted practice in your area.
I live in an open range area. If, I don't want Rancher Steve's 100 head of Herford cattle rampaging through my yard, its my responsibility to keep them out. Otherwise, his animals have a perfect right to roam on my property.
Our county has a dog leash law. But, if you own 35 contiguous acres, your dogs are exempt. So, once again, the law states that Rancher Steve's cattle dogs my go wherever they please. He owns more than 35 acres.
As for keeping them in, Mine (the chickens) can't clear a 4 1/2 foot tall fence. No clipped wing, either. The older they get, the lower the fence I need. Can you put a temporary wire a little higher, until they get old and fat (like me)?

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

I live in an open range area. If, I don't want Rancher Steve's 100 head of Herford cattle rampaging through my yard, its my responsibility to keep them out. Otherwise, his animals have a perfect right to roam on my property.
Our county has a dog leash law. But, if you own 35 contiguous acres, your dogs are exempt. So, once again, the law states that Rancher Steve's cattle dogs my go wherever they please. He owns more than 35 acres.

Wow, things sure are different in the west. Here in Ohio, it doesn't matter how many acres a farmer has (and most will have a lot more than 35 acres), his cattle have to stay on his land and his dogs do, too. And if a dog comes on my property and attacks my animals, I'm perfectly in my rights to shoot that dog and bill the owner for the treatment and/or replacement cost of the animals, plus extra to cover the animals' future production.

 

[azelgin]

Wow, things sure are different in the west. Here in Ohio, it doesn't matter how many acres a farmer has (and most will have a lot more than 35 acres), his cattle have to stay on his land and his dogs do, too. And if a dog comes on my property and attacks my animals, I'm perfectly in my rights to shoot that dog and bill the owner for the treatment and/or replacement cost of the animals, plus extra to cover the animals' future production.

Not here, you hit a cow on open range, you bought it. And, you get to pay your own auto repair bill. Border patrol nailed one of Jimmy Payette's prize bulls last year. Totaled the truck and cost us taxpayers a pretty penny for some high priced road kill.
Maybe, I can shoot dogs besides Steve's, but what's the point, because I have to protect my chickens from "legal" dogs, so, the 'Illegals" will be kept out, too. The rules were here before I was, so, that's the way it is.

 

[costello]

Clipping a wing worked for an adventurist EE, I have. Assuming you properly clipped the flight feathers, is there anything in the fenced area, that the birds could jump up on, then make a easy hop over the fence? Also, What breed of chicken are we talking about? Some breeds really like to fly,(As well as a chicken can fly).

I'm not absolutely sure I clipped them correctly, but I'm 97% sure I did. I watched 4 videos on youtube, and it didn't seem all that hard.

One of these chickens came from a bin marked "Rainbow Layers." I'm pretty sure she's a Black Sex Link. The other is a Production Red.

There are some small trees which they may be using to make the trip easier. Another possibility is that they're going under the fence. There's at least one spot where the fence travels over a small rise in the terrain, and there's a small triangular opening. Maybe big enough for a chicken, especially since the bottom wire isn't hot. Actually I had a young brown leghorn escape from the basement last weekend. She ran right to the fence and squeezed through one of the bottom squares. I was surprised she didn't get a shock. Anyway I'll wedge a rock in that small gap under the fence and see if that helps. If not, I'll see what I can do with those trees. They do like to congregate there, though, so I hate to remove them or change the fence location unless I know that's the problem.

I've seen them get back into the yard, but I've never actually witnessed an escape. They definitely aren't flying over the fence to get back in. They climb the steps to the deck and jump down.

 

[costello]

Good luck with your birds. Personally, I'd clip both wings. A BYC member (wish I could remember their nickname) spent a lot of time and had some birds clipped one wing and some clipped both wings, and took notes on which birds could get to what height. That person's recommendation was to clip both wings, as those with one wing clipped were often still able to fly. My birds, especially the little light ones like Leghorns, are still able to fly over my 5' fence with only one wing clipped.

Thanks. I may go ahead and clip the other wing as well. The one that got out yesterday is definitely the smaller of the two birds.

 

[bobbi-j]

When one posts information or questions on a public forum, one is bound to get advice or comments on the information posted. All of it. So when you mention your chickens going onto the property of your neighbors that you're planning on suing, but YOU "tolerate it" you are going to get a reaction for the very reasons WOS mentioned. That sounds like you are completely disregarding the neighbors' feelings about the situation. As mentioned, there are way too many posts like that and it does raise red flags.

 

[azelgin]

There's at least one spot where the fence travels over a small rise in the terrain, and there's a small triangular opening. Maybe big enough for a chicken, especially since the bottom wire isn't hot. Actually I had a young brown leghorn escape from the basement last weekend. She ran right to the fence and squeezed through one of the bottom squares. I was surprised she didn't get a shock.

Chickens are very well insulated. I've got an electric wire running around the outside of my runs. Nine out of ten times they touch it and don't even flinch. They have to make contact with a bare leg, comb, wattle, or beak. I don't have a wimpy charger, either. It puts out between 15,000 and 20,000 volts.

 

[JackE]

I'm not absolutely sure I clipped them correctly, but I'm 97% sure I did. I watched 4 videos on youtube, and it didn't seem all that hard.

One of these chickens came from a bin marked "Rainbow Layers." I'm pretty sure she's a Black Sex Link. The other is a Production Red.

There are some small trees which they may be using to make the trip easier. Another possibility is that they're going under the fence. There's at least one spot where the fence travels over a small rise in the terrain, and there's a small triangular opening. Maybe big enough for a chicken, especially since the bottom wire isn't hot. Actually I had a young brown leghorn escape from the basement last weekend. She ran right to the fence and squeezed through one of the bottom squares. I was surprised she didn't get a shock. Anyway I'll wedge a rock in that small gap under the fence and see if that helps. If not, I'll see what I can do with those trees. They do like to congregate there, though, so I hate to remove them or change the fence location unless I know that's the problem.

I've seen them get back into the yard, but I've never actually witnessed an escape. They definitely aren't flying over the fence to get back in. They climb the steps to the deck and jump down.

I'll bet they are squeezing under the fence, at the spot you mentioned. I have 650' of the netting, So I have places where the fence is up a bit off the ground. I use twigs with a small stub or branch, pushed into the ground at the bottom of the fence, to pin it to the ground. I would not want to cut tress/bushes down either, but the fence is easy to move around.

 

[Judy]

I think we're done here. Thank you for your participation.