Letting your birds wander- How high should the fence be?

[HappyChickenLover]

if u got bantams like oegb forget it they'll jump it

 

[mdbokc]

My Golden Comets and RIR will go over a 4' fence w/o thinking twice if they want to. Fortunately, they don't care to. However, I am hoping the adults train the 16 4-week olds to do the same once they come together. I did run a 7' high fence as shown here, https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=35063-fences-visible-invisible to keep them in "their yard" until put out into the orchard and woods to roam over 5 acres.

Anyway, the methodology can be easily and inexpensively adapted to a privacy fence to extend it higher and basically not have the extension stand out to the human eye.

 

[Pharm Girl]

I also have a backyard with 6ft. fencing. Mine have never jumped out, but they have jumped over the 6ft. gate from the back yard to the front yard. Once one figured out how to do it, the others quickly followed. I you tubed wing clipping and it took me about 10 minutes to clip one wing on each side. I was queasy about doing it, but it ended up no big deal and they haven't jumped over since.
If you clip only one side they spiral (in theory)

 

[megans meadow]

Quote:
ROFLMAO

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
I was going to suggest the two wing clipping too. Clipping one wing will definately keep them from flying but when they hop down from a roost they use their wings to keep their balance. By clipping two wings they can still motor a little bit in a balanced way. In an emergency situation being chased or scared they still can use their wings to help them run.

We used to do this when we were taming young parakeets. Works great. When they come off your shoulder they dont get hurt you scoop them off the ground and they are quite happy to sit and stay on your shoulder.

 

[Kathi D]

My outer run has 5-foot fencing, and my chickens have never jumped or flown over. I think that they probably could, but they just never have. On the other hand, I have all fairly heavy breeds, so I think they are less inclined and/or able to get over a fence, compared to smaller breeds.

Unfortunately, a fox or bobcat got over the fence in daylight (all birds are locked inside at night) and took some of mine!

 

[OldMacDonald]

Mdbokc- Unfortunately, few cities (or even small towns like mine) allow fences higher than six feet.

So the question is, if I have nice fat pullets, and I clip their wings, will they be able to get over that fence? A chicken usually needs a running start, don't they? The garden boxes are right against the fences. So if they are using those 2 foot high boxes as a step, they would then have to jump straight up another four feet to clear the fence. I know a chicken can clear four feet with a running start. but a straight up jump with a fat body and clipped wings?

 

[mdbokc]

They do not need a running start. They can go straight up and land on the fence top Then drop over. Which is why a barrier tilted into their area (like a prison yard) will stop them if you can't get the height. It can be deer netting (almost invisible to people). They will fly straight up into the barrier, not be able to get over. They eventually quit trying.

I have never clipped wings as I want mine fully able to avoid predators.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Ooh good idea.

 

[OldMacDonald]

What if I just cut the entire wing off? Could they still make it over the fence?