Michigan

[Henny Penny04]

So jealous of all of you with tillers. That person you'll drive past, sweating and cursing with a hand tool whilst breaking up sod, yeah, that'll be me.

Our run is too small, and too hot in the summer, to hold all the birds we currently have. We let them out to free range during the day. It's 3.5 fenced acres of chicken heaven, complete with a 2 acre meadow full of bugs, lots of wooded area with leaf litter, and woodpiles. But, where do these dumb birds keep to? MY HOUSE. In fact... my garage, an open car door, the house if one of the kids has left the door open, and my flower beds. I seriously can't take the poop everywhere. So, I want to fence in a big ol' area on the property (cheaply, yet decent looking). Do you think they would fly over a 3.5 foot picket fence, because that's all I can find used. I'm hoping the consensus is no, but am afraid you will all say yes, and with ease. Thoughts? How high can a chicken fly?

 

[LoveMyChicklets]

Not sure if a 3.5 fence would be high enough but have you considered clipping their flight feathers? I had to do that with my bantys in the past. It's very easy to do and didn't seem to bother them. Of course, I only had 5 birds to clip.

 

[Ferrret]

Henny Penny, I think that chickens probably can fly over the fence, but I doubt they would unless they were scared of something and trying to get away.
We have a 2 foot high fence around our small garden and they walk around it. We also have a short fence around the dirt spot where the coop used to be, growing grass there and we don't want them eating the seed, and they have kept out of it. While they are interested in what's on the other side of our 4 foot chain link yard fence, they don't bother with trying to jump it.

 

[Opa]

I have a 4' electric poultry fence and I only have one hen who flys out on a regular basis. I keep meaning to clip her wings but you know how it goes with those round tuits.
As far as how high can a chicken fly, my garden has a 7' fence around it. In late fall the chickens are allowed in til spring. I have never had one fly out. Chickens can roost quite high in trees but they don't fly straight to that heighth. They will fly to a lower limb, then fly up to a higher one until they finally reach their goal.

 

[saddina]

Thanks Opa, good to see that bristlely moustache again.

Got to try out my new off-road wheels yesterday, they're pretty good, mr saddi, being the nut he is, decided to test-run them on a hiking trail. Except for needing to carry me over the stream, they held up great.

 

[RaZ]

I found some 1/2 inch plastic mesh fence/netting at the home store. It's 4 feet tall and 100' long. Lightweight and nearly invisible. I use those cheap plastic step in posts and can move the fence to anywhere in the yard in just a few minutes.

The fencing was $13 and the posts $2 a piece. It works well here in my suburban back yard. I have zones to keep the 11 weeks apart from the 6 weeks. They can see each other yet they are seperate until big enough to integrate.

Something like that might work for you.

 

[saddina]

Quote:
Hello!

Here is a humorous articicle that might help out with Michigan terms.

http://www.michigannative.com/ma_wordsphrases.shtml

Hope it helps!

It'll take me 5 minutes to understand a conversation. (not unlike when I go to mexico, yes i technically understand each word, but heck if I know what you mean).

 

[Chickmate]

Quote:
My front and back yards are separated by a fence and gate and the chickens free range the back yard only. I have moved all my hostas and anything I didn't want them to eat to the front yard. The fence is 5' high wire farm fence and I do occasionally have a chicken go through the fence, but never over it. They are able to fit through the squares right now, but when they get full sized I don't think they will. They would really rather go around something than fly over it. That said, they hop up on my deck which is probably 3' high with no problem. They don't sit on my fence because it's wire and too hard for them to balance on, but if it looks like something they can sit on they may try to do that. A picket fence wouldn't be too comfortable to sit on so they probably won't. It's worth a try, but that fence that RaZ found sounds great!!

 

[MrsChickendad]

Quote:
Opa, now you know why all us "sweet young things" love you!

Incidentally, are you missing a red plate? I think it originally came with a coconut cake on it, but it went home with me by mistake. Unfortunately, the coconut cake was gone—

 

[Henny Penny04]

Thanks everyone! There was a hen up on my husbands toolbench today (don't tell him), so yes, that answers my question. I think I shall try it though, as we want it to be permanent, and multipurpose (I'm thinking the dog can go back there on days I'm irritated with him).Clipping the flight feathers is a good suggestion. I did that on my rooster when he first came here; don't know why I hadn't though of the hens, too. I'm dreaming of eating out on my deck WITHOUT poop and definitely without a curious hen seeing what's for dinner. gag! My first choice would be the sheep/goat fencing with the 2" squares, with wooden round posts. But... that may be down the road when we finally do get goats. For now, it's the Craigslist special. Thanks everyone, I'll let you know how it works out (or fails dismally).