Will my chicks fly over the fence?

[aggiemae]

Our chicks were hatched on 4/4 and two of them can already fly well enough to reach the top of the outside of the brooder, about 32".

Some chickens fly better than other but they all can fly. it's best to clip their wings to keep them from getting injured. Aside form hawks and other predators another thing to consider it that wild birds can get into an opened chicken yard which means you need to be extra careful about lice.

BTW your coop is cute.

 

[aggiemae]

I think from what I'm reading lately that chicken wire won't really work to keep them safe- that it's better to use hardware cloth, but maybe someone else can chime in on this?

Chicken wire will keep them safe from above but the openings are large enough for a raccoon to reach in an kill a chicken. There are some great canopies to deter wild birds on the coop pages

 

[Nickichicki]

I use soccer netting over my coop. It is durable, keeps everyone safe and I have had ZERO issues with predators to date! However my fencing is also 6 to 7 feet tall. I think your going to have to do something else to keep them in and more importantly SAFE! Good Luck!!

 

[PeepsAreForMe]

Thanks friends! I was thinking of putting some kind of posts up another 4 feet and putting chicken wire on the sides and was going to cover it with that too. I don't want it to look too backwoods though! But I do want them to be safe.

If a raccoon was snooping around the perimeter, wouldnt that scare them into the center where he could not reach them? Or at least be out of his reach? I have never seen one around my neighborhood but then again I don't know what creeps around at night!!

I got my coop from hayneedle.com. I'm stil not convinced it is large enough inside, I have 3 GSL's and 2 bantams.

 

[calman5565]

If I were you I would consider purchasing avian netting and have a tall pole in the middle of the area that props it up. This would make it possible to walk inside the enclosure and keep your chickens safe.

 

[PeepsAreForMe]

I just read about someone else using avain netting, thanks! Should I still extend the sides up more and then put the netting up?

 

[RonC]

I would advise raising the sides if you are going to cover the run unless you like crawling in chicken poop or bending over. Not my idea of fun! Looks like you have a nice start though.

 

[PeepsAreForMe]

Not my idea of fun!! LOL Thanks for all the great suggestions. We will have to raise the sides even if we don't cover the top. I've seen another house in my area that has chickens. They roam all around their yard so I will go talk to them too.I have not seen a rooster with them and I don't have one either.

 

[afchicken]

you said you where going to clip there wings if so it is fine where it is

 

[crumptz]

Yes, they will jump that... So, if I were you I'd put netting over the top. It will help with hawks and it will keep the hens inside. My neighbor has a great set up sorta like yours. Husband put 6 foot poles in the corners of the run and an 8 foot one in the center and attached bird netting so it looks like a circus tent. They have about 40 hens and it has worked very well. Obviously, it won't keep out racoons but if you are locking them in the coop at night that shouldn't be a problem...