Will tall, thick weeds work as a fence?

[GallowayFarms]

Ya I let my hens free range on about 40 acres. I have seen them about a 1/4 mile from the coop before out into the cow pasture. Most of the time they stay with 100 yards of the coop. But I keep most of it mowed. They are great at cleaning up after the horse

Chickens can and will climb around, through of over about anything, and don't get me started on turkeys. About a month after I started dating my wife she came down for dinner, when we got done and she went to leave 7 of my turkeys had taken up camp on her car. Nice way to say welcome to the farm huh.

Good luck, and I would build a secure run to keep them in. But if you are out working in the yard and can keep an eye on them, let them roam and help you keep the bugs at bay.

Nick

 

[RedCanoe]

How high of a fence do I need to keep them contained? We have an area about 100 feet by 100 feet that we can let them run in. Would a four foot fence around that do? I am sure this question is addressed on an older post, but i cant seem to find it.

We are not settled on a breed yet so any suggestions would be welcome.

I just saw the link on clipping their wings. Would that in conjunction with a 4 ft fence be good enough.

 

[Beekissed]

Works for me! The only place I have to supplement height is on the gate itself. Now, you may have more adventuresome chickens than do I, so most folks will tell you to go some higher on your fence. I don't keep mine in all the time, just until the garden gets big enough to survive the scratching...then the girls are FREE!

 

[RedCanoe]

Thanks BeeKissed. Do you clip or no clip?

 

[Beekissed]

I clip primaries on one side. I have only had one hen challenge the system and she led a revolution of sorts. She was too fat to fly but she did hop onto the small gate. We now have a 2 ft. strip of wire just balanced on top of the gate and no attempts since then. I have heavy meat breeds so I don't know how this would work for banties or pet breeds.