run help! my girls escape the yard, eat my house, dig and destroy!

[JurassicBawk]

If I were you, I'd look for a new/used 10x10 chainlink dog run and use that to make a run. That would be 4 10 foot long, 6 foot high chainlink panels, and you could make them a 10x20 run easily by using the back wooden fence as a side. Basically the same shape that you've got going now, but it should be large enough to enclose the coop inside it, then cover the whole thing with bird netting (or that chicken wire you've already got if it's enough) to keep them inside. Then you've got then fully enclosed and a full gate for you to walk into the run/coop area.

 

[Pandabear70]

desperate for a containment for my 9 girls. they are almost a year old. They have done so much damage to my wood fence, eating the paint off my house, didding up plants, eating plants of course, pooping everywhere and hopping over our 4 foot fence into the front yard to dig up plants there.

I need a run, big enough for 9 big girls (we are desperately trying to rehome at least 2 because maybe the size of the flock in my small yard is the problem??), durable enough for massachusetts weather

Today I was so done looking at the mess and trying to hop over the barricades set up to protect my house that I built a run. It will never hold up all summer and one girl already flew up and over it-was a bit of a struggle for her though.

I need suggestions to add fun in the run so they will stay in it! I know they want trees so I had to build one out of an old christmas tree and some small logs...What else can I put in to give them something to hide under and get shade?

I would love any thoughts on affordable easy addition ideas for the run we have.

I made this out of a bunch of 4" fence pieces from Lowes and I attached chicken wire to the top with zip ties to make it high enough to contain them. View attachment 1714441 View attachment 1714440 View attachment 1714439


I am so scared they are going to escape when we are at work tomorrow and get back up to their shenanegans!

You could try putting a screen or chicken wire over the top to stop them from getting out. We let ours free range they only bother blueberry bushes so far.

 

[ChickenFox]

I second the looking for a used dog kennel to turn into a run. If that's not an option have you tried clipping their wings? Not the actual wings of course but the flight feathers used for take off. It won't ground them completely but it will certainly make it harder for them to gain any height to clear the current fence.

 

[PNWJewele]

I second the looking for a used dog kennel to turn into a run. If that's not an option have you tried clipping their wings? Not the actual wings of course but the flight feathers used for take off. It won't ground them completely but it will certainly make it harder for them to gain any height to clear the current fence.

And though I've never done it, I've been told you do it to only one wing.

 

[ChickenFox]

And though I've never done it, I've been told you do it to only one wing.

True. Only clipping the one wing keeps them more off balanced when trying to fly where as they can partially compensate if you clip both and may still clear the fence with relative ease.

 

[BuffOrps32]

For fun toys I have heard of hanging broccoli upside down and letting them peck at it. I've tossed in wood chips and straw for scratching material. Mine like pecking melon skins and playing chase with apples.

 

[funnyfoshay]

I second the looking for a used dog kennel to turn into a run. If that's not an option have you tried clipping their wings? Not the actual wings of course but the flight feathers used for take off. It won't ground them completely but it will certainly make it harder for them to gain any height to clear the current fence.

When my little adventurous EE made it over the top I grabbed her and clipped her wing, I clipped all 9 so I hope that keeps them in.