Will chickens fly out of my backyard?

[Jeffomatic]

My four Australorp pullets are 10 weeks old. Right now, they seem to have the light weight and feathers to fly pretty good! One was chased by a cat and got so frightened that she flew right over my six foot board fence. Luckily, she was recovered before she met another predator on the other side! I'm sure they won't be able to do that when they are grown to 6 pounds, though. Meanwhile, I'm going to keep them in a totally enclosed run unless I'm in the fenced yard to watch them. I think that jerk tom cat that keeps coming round could eat one if he caught it. I got him good with the hose, hopefully that'll discourage him a little.

 

[chickenlittle1980]

mine has done it twice! last time it took 3 hours to catch her she was on the other block!!!! As soon as i can find someone to hold her i am going to clip her wings! When i have to put them up early i always make sure she is in first in !

 

[perse]

Hi ya'll

I have fifteen chickens, about 20 weeks old, have lived in a coop and outside top fence covered chicken run their entire life, the top fence covered run is about 6 feet high, and inside of this, they have flown up to the top.

I have a larger yard area I want to allow them to roam around in that is not top covered, but am worried about them flying over the 6 foot picket fence we have separating us from a not very nice neighbor. I am worried about letting them out, and not getting them back if they get sassy and fly the fence.

Should I clip the wings, or cover a larger section of the yard?

Thanks!

 

[kota1369]

I have 3 EE'rs and a BO and have cut their wings from day one. Mine have a secure chicken tractor. A large daytime run under the hanging rabbit cages and then are allowed to free range my 1/2 acre back yard when I am home and want them out where I can see them. I have a 4' fence and have not had any problems with them going over it. But, I also think they get enough stimulation in my yard and have no need to go else where. I get the impression they know they are safe here with me and the dogs.
If one or all of the dogs are out with them and a dog barks.......... the chickens run to them. Now, I am not sure if they are running to the dogs for safety or if they run to them as "chicken back-up"
I just know it is adorable to watch. The dogs like their chickens! My point is I think they know they are safe here, why leave.
So, I say clip them for safety purposes, but that is JMO.

And I have to also say, my chickens are NOT quiet. They are not parrot noicey......... but when someone has an egg, at least 3 neighbors hear it too.
They also got quite noicey and aggravated ( it seemed like they were yelling at my dogs) when my pack killed a bunny, when I accidently left a rabbit cage open. The ladies were very angry for about 40 minutes. I could hardly get them to shut up. And they were loose in the yard when it happened and seemed quite ticked!
Now........ I also know I am humanizing it a bit, but honestly I have never seen the ladies act like that before. It was like they were yelling at them telling them they were bad dogs. LOLOL As far as my dogs were concerned the bunny was an intruder. (it was loose in the yard) MOMS rabbits are in the cages.

Good luck to you on your chicken venture....... you will love them
They are great to have

the lady w/4 dogs, 4 city chickens, 5 meat rabbits, their kits and a lizard
oh, and I am fostering a standard poodle

 

[sheila3935]

I have so far only 1 that would get over our 6 ft privacy fence. The other day my sons girlfriend called to say either one of our reds or the neighbors was out. we were out shopping and ran home. went out back and counted. Only 7, we have 8 so the search was on. Finally found her with the neighbors chickens in their run. When we let her out she made a beeline back to the gate. Since then she hasnt left the yard. Guess she was afraid she wasnt going to get to come back home.

 

[Shaun]

If they are Bantams, it won't matter how high the fence is. They'll fly over.

 

[chickfamilyonsleepyhollow]

we have six red sexlinks that free-range late in the afternoon

our yard has a six foot stockade fence on three sides and a six foot chainlink fence on one side ... only once did one of our girls get to the otherside and its because we had our firepit up against the fence and she used it to hop on then over

haven't had it happen since we moved the firepit