The Poultry Keeper

Muddiwarx · Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 90 Location: Nr Manchester, UK

I would ideally like to have our chickens loose in the garden - our fence is 6 foot hight - could they jump/ flap over it? Their wings have been clipped and I havenot seen any great athleticism from them but would not wish to risk them getting out and eaten by someones dog.

james419 · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:30 pm Post subject:

We have 1.5 metre fence running down one side and only one physcotic Bantam ever clears it - she chases next doors deer! the other never bother - but it easy to clip their wings and that stops them

Clucky · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 2182 Location: Shropshire

I have 6ft fencing all round and the first year I clipped the wings on mine, but I don't bother any more, none of them want to fly out at all Smile

and some can get a good 6ft high in the fixed run when they want too Laughing

Muddiwarx · Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 90 Location: Nr Manchester, UK

Ours have clipped wings already - so they should not be able to get over a 6 foot fence then ..... (Sorry to appear dim, just don't want to lose them!)

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1331 Location: Manchester

I have 5ft fencing and have never had a chicken attempt it - though one very small golden seabright did manage to somehow get up onto the top of the outhouse! I think she was scared by a cat and jumped from the coop roof.

Muddiwarx · Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 90 Location: Nr Manchester, UK

Thank you

I will stop worrying about them now but will still keep a close eye the first time we let them loose Smile

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3222 Location: Monmouthshire

Just a small aside: reference is always made to clipped wings - if both are clipped they can fly, so read clipped wing.

layla · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 532 Location: West Midlands

We have a five foot fence and when we got our chickens they did perch on it so we clipped one wing of each of them and have put a run of chicken wire on top so if they do fly up they can't settle on anything.No problems Angel

mojo · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:07 pm Post subject:

if you can bend the top 6inchs of wire inwards towards the hens that is a added deterant