will chickens stay in this pen?

[pnp4kidz]

Oh, that and I live on a steep hill, which is mainly pastured for our horses... so there isn't a lot of 'yard' area to use, and very little flat enough to move a tractor on, so, it has to be built in... whereever it is.
I guess they will get a nice new coop and run...

 

[BooBear]

ah ok

Well maybe pen up the doggies and let the chickens rule the yard.......(sounds good)
Other option would be higher fencing to discourage flyouts.

 

[pnp4kidz]

we have 7 dogs, and they protect the joint...
I wish I had more 'yard' area that would work for keeping dogs in one area and chickens in another...
but...
and there is unfortunately a lot of neighbor dogs that come to visit...
and like chicken for dinner....
I can't stomach seeing a flock dessimated again...
one roo cost me $600 to have surgery done, (neighbor dog killed 12 hens, one big roo, and tore this boy's skin off his back) and after spending 6 mo in my house healing, Fluffy went back out to the coop, and within a few days that darn dog waited to see him out and finished the job...

That dog has also killed an adult male Llama down the street and was finally named a 'dangerous dog' by animal control, but they hid him and didn't let AC put him down... so, he comes in the dark of night still... and haunts us... argh...

 

[BooBear]

sounds like you need to be shootin some dogs.
sorry to here about the loss.

 

[wood&feathers]

With an extension your fence might hold Orps or Australorps, Cochins and other calm, heavy types. But you say your flock is Ameracaunas and Marans, and both of those can fly pretty well (not like games, but still...). My Easter Eggers can fly up and perch on TOP of their coop, 6' or so high. My Marans is good for 5'.

Perhaps wing clipping?

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

Quote:
*cough* Triple S *cough*

 

[pnp4kidz]

Well, I would have been shooting a dog in particular, if I had a gun... or a man with a gun...
but, there is a no on both counts... so we had to go with calling AC.
and now I know why people buy guns... and forget about AC.
worthless they are...

I think I may try putting up an extension, and pray that the area is large enough that they don't WANT to get out...
maybe????

I have at least 5 months to find out anyway... my birds are still eggs and those eggs are still in the Post Office! LOLOL!!!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

My heavy brown egg layers can fly over 4 foot high fencing easily when they get a mind to. My EEs can fly over higher than that - they often fly from one end of the garden to the other at around 6 feet in the air.

It is all a matter of if they decide to get out. I have to put bird netting on top of my 4 foot fencing if I want to keep them in for temporary enclosures I make.

 

[OkieKristi]

I have a 20' x 25' run with a fence that is about 6'5" high. I have 4 sex link pullets and 1 EE cockeral (all around 14 wks old), and this morning I brought home two 6-mo old EE pullets. One of the EE cleared the fence and was eaten by my dogs (a Shih tzu and a schnauzer mix) within an hour of bringing them home.

Hubby and I have now clipped everyone's wings, but I wish I had done so before one was killed. I just really didn't think they would fly over that fence. I wouldn't count on any open top fence keeping the birds in unless their wings are clipped, and I think that is dangerous if they are free ranging. I'm new to chickens, but I am learning fast.

 

[averytds]

The bulk of our fencing is only 3.5-4 ft. We clip wings of our free ranging flock when needed, but don't usually have to after the first couple of times. Then they don't usually bother to try. Our youngest ones we haven't even done once. I guess since the older birds stay in, they just keep in with the rest of the flock. They could easily get over if they really wanted to. They fly up to much higher perches within the yard.