Fencing
- Thread starter denis06
- Start date
chrismahon
Well-known member
Hi Denis06. Depends on the age and breed. They go through a high flying stage between 4 and 9 months when 3' 6" is not enough. We had Wyandottes clearing that and raised it to 5 feet and still had a cockerel and a hen clear it. Now they are older they show little inclanation to fly, so the 3' 6" feet would be OK. The leghorn bantams at 2 years old clear 4 feet with ease. Raised it to 5 feet and they still cleared it so clipped a wing on each.
Always best to have a top on a run if possible as it stops wild birds getting to the feed and spreading lice, mites and disease. Some of our runs are far too big for that though.
Always best to have a top on a run if possible as it stops wild birds getting to the feed and spreading lice, mites and disease. Some of our runs are far too big for that though.
I agree with what Chrismahon says, but remember, it's not just keeping the hens in but keeping predators out, that's important. To exclude foxes, dogs etc from a fenced and open-topped run, you need two-metre high fences, preferably with electric backup if it's an open field. If the run has a mesh roof, you still beed it to be 6ft so you can get inside without crawling in poo!If it's a low enclosure that you can step into, perhaps on a lawn to keep them off the flowerbeds, you need good perimeter fencing to your garden, because even if you were out there with them whilst they were in the enclosure, they are still at risk if a dog suddenly comes into the garden and goes for them, as I found out recently - luckily mine were shut up at he time, and I've now installed a high gate at the weak point in our boundary. It really depends on your setup -confining hens in a garden is different from keeping hens in large runs, like the ones Chris was talking about, but their safety must always come first.
E3lx
New member
My fence is about 4 foot, but the hens can still fly over. The wyandotte trio never bother to fly, but the young pullets do.
It depends what type of birds you have, if they are leghorns, legbars or dutch you will have aproblem with low fences, but brahmas, cochins and other heavies are unlikely to fly.
I'm not so worried if they fly out because the'yre enclosures are in a fenced, hedged garden.
It depends what type of birds you have, if they are leghorns, legbars or dutch you will have aproblem with low fences, but brahmas, cochins and other heavies are unlikely to fly.
I'm not so worried if they fly out because the'yre enclosures are in a fenced, hedged garden.
