Survey

[blue fire]

How high are your chicken's roosts and do your chickens jump fences, there might be some correspondence between the two. Just a hunch.

 

[lauralou]

My chicken roosts are not high. Several of my coops are hutch coops, and the roosts are about a foot off the ground. In the big walk in coop, the roosts are about 4 feet off the ground.

Many of my chickens will jump a fence. It has more to do with the weight and flying abilities of the chicken. My lighter bodied birds are excellent flyers. The heavier ladies, like Buff Orps, don't fly very well. They jump and flap, but don't get much height.

 

[chicknjane]

My roosts are about 18" off the floor. My fence is 5' high and the little scamps fly over it no problems and I'm talking large breeds. BO, BA, BR. RSL, GLW and mixes. Actually, they fly to the top, rest, then jump down. It is a sight to see.

 

[lauralou]

Now that you mention it, I've seen a picture of big Brahma hens sitting on top of a 6 foot fence. At least 6 feet, maybe more.

Could it be that my larger ladies are lazy? Gasp!

 

[JanieMarie]

I've got many different roosts at different heights. In the main coop I have a 4' roost and a 6' roost. The 6' roost is their favorite! And at the same time they've never flown over the 5' run fence! Go figure. I always figured it was cuz there's plenty of room and lots of scratch in the run and of course this time of year the snow doesn't look any better on the other side of the fence than it does in the run!

 

[BlueEggs4Life]

I have roosts available at about 18" off the ground and about 3 1/2 feet, they only use the higher one. I have easter eggers and they defiantly would fly over even a 7 foot fence no prob. - needless to say the run is now complete with a fenced roof. I didnt need any of my neighbors dogs having a city chicken for lunch!

 

[tammyd57]

My roosts are about 18" high. The run fence is 7' and my BO's hop right over if they get startled or scared by something. They don't WANT to be on the other side of the fence and can't wait to be let back in.

 

[BWchicken]

My flock is all bantams (various breeds) and their roost is about 4 or 5 feet high. But one thing about bantams, they can really fly! I don't think fencing even comes in a size tall enough to keep them in, so our run is covered with a chicken wire roof. Took some doing but it was totally worth it, keeps them safe from hawks too. Our run is large and the "roof" is about 12 feet high at the highest points, so they can (and do) still fly around. I wish I could let them free range, but due to the hawks and the neighbor's five (yes, 5) free-ranging dogs, I probably won't ever be able to.