My hens won't stay home

[2dogs1cat]

The fence along the front of the yard is only 4 ft and we cannot make it taller. What can I do to discourage fence hopping? Every morning for the past week I've had to round them up from the neighbors and get them home. Today is the worst - they've gone over the fence 4 times at least! They've got a huge backyard to roam so I don't understand the appeal of the front yard - there is NOTHING out there to eat....

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Not sure this'll help but to get mine interested in other areas of my yard when they were first out free ranging I'd attract them with some treats (black oil sunflower seeds or grapes) to the area I'd want them to go in.

Worth a shot?

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Gotta be something over there that they like better than in your yard.

Does your yard have shelter for them to get under, shade. Places to play and hide

If you can't build the fence higher you can

1. Keep them locked up in the run

2. Let them out in the evening, they wont wander as far.

3. Build a fence that will stop them from hoping over. chicken stands here next to the fence

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chicken can hop on top of the fence and jump to the other side

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chicken can't jump UP & OVER

l use some bird netting, depending on what kind of fence you have attache the netting so it hangs out from the fence. I used thin pvc When chickens try to jump over, they bump into the netting and drop back to the ground. Was the only way I could keep Houdini my escape artist RIR in a pen. That was until the morning glories grew up the netting and she used them to climb out!