Won't stay in yard!

[alamogirl]

My 4 chickens will NOT stay in our backyard. They somehow didn't get the memo that they are backyard chickens and not frontyard chickens. We have a 4 ft fence and they just hop right on over.

I found them in our neighbor's garage the other day. We live in a neighborhood and we're not allowed to have chickens anyway. They might not have their sweet life for much longer if their territory keeps expanding....

So what are my options? Clipping wings? Training? Just keep them in their run all the time?

My husband will kill me if I tell him he needs to build a taller fence...

 

[NellaBean]

I'm having the same problem but over a 6 foot fence. I clipped wings yesterday and am hoping that will work. If not, they will have to stay in a covered run. Maybe I can put little weights on their ankles so they can't fly so high (just kidding).

 

[Casey3043]

Yikes! I had the same problem, but my fence is 5 feet! I was on the phone this morning and looked out the window and my two SLW pullets, 18 weeks old, were on top of the chain link fence looking at the woods. I have older hens, and in almost 3 years, none of them have gone over or even up on top of the fence.

I ran out there and pushed them off (back into the yard) from the outside (I didn't want to scare them off into the woods).

Four feet might be enough if you clip the flight feathers of one wing. I always thought five feet was enough, but it looks like I might have to do a little clipping myself.

There is information on this site about how to clip flight feathers.

Good luck and keep us posted. I bet your neighbor did a double take to find chickens in his garage!

CASEY

 

[Casey3043]

I think the ankle weight thing is a good idea, LOL! Maybe a ball and chain?

CASEY

 

[mikesbigroo]

move to the country,, yea right if was just so easy, don;t think ya can train them to stay in the yard, gotta neighbor down the road that wanted chickens, seen mine and thought he would get some, free ranged his, well they free range in my yard and now he has lost interest, seems like they might be mine now,, hmm

 

[alamogirl]

Well, move to the country is my first vote...

So far, they haven't wandered into the neighbor's garage, just mine today. The hubby is tired of the chicken poop in his space....

I just can't keep them "cooped up" so looks like we will try clipping wings. I was hoping they'd get fat enough that they can't go over or under the fence....

darn chickens. My arguement that they are less messy than dogs is not working out....

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
A few ideas might be:
Clip wings
Hobble them
Expand their run options.
Give them more sheltering shrubs and plantings.
Make them a dust bath.
Give them green feed by hanging it where they have to leap and jump to get at it.
Plug all holes they can 'skootch' out of.

Good luck - once they get to wandering, you will have to force them to stay put.

 

[MontanaMomma]

Uhhhg! Frustrating, isn't it? I had the same problem with my 5 lovely Leghorns. Although, them getting IN the garage was not a problem. They get ON the neighbors garage! AAAK! I clipped their wings and moved things away from the fence that they can hop onto. But they still find little spaces they can squeeze out of. I think it starts out as, "hey, that looks like a good place to perch"...hop..."ahh, that is nice"... "hey! what's over there?" hop. Building a nice place for them to perch away from the fence is on my to-do list. I may also designate a part of our yard to keep them in so they are pooping everywhere! ~Squish between my toes

 

[chickenshagg]

I have no fence so when I started letting my chickens free range I tried to stay out there with them. If I saw them heading out of the yard I would call them back and often reward them with treats. I had one occasion where I had to go and retrieve them from across the road. I still upon occasion have to let them know that they need to come back if they get out by the road. I do live in a subdivision so it is not as though I am out in the country.
Perhaps chickens are like people in the sence that some listen/learn better than others.

 

[sootman]

My one hen was jumping over a 4' fence. To solve the problem I put 12" sticks at the top of the fence and then strung cauion tape all along. She will not jump over now even though it is only a few inches higher. I imagine I could use any type of ribbon as it flutters in the wind and fools with her judgement.