4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[stoice]

I've had my ex-batts for a while using the omlet green fencing (Not electrified) to keep them off my flower beds. Never had an issue with them jumping over it, but then I wonder if they'll ever learn to do so considering the first 18 months of their life was in a a tiny cage. They're wings are un-clipped.

 

So I've put my 17wk old bluebelle and blackrock in the garden fencing, come back from making a cuppa to find Mable rummaging through my flower beds! Betty then flew over the fence to join her (More of a flapping leap really) Their wings are clipped.

 

I'm considering putting some pea netting over the top now to stop more escapes (Not fox proof I know but this is only for when I'm around to let them free range in the garden under supervision)

 

Any one else had these problems or got a better solution?

 

Thanks guys

[Gallina]

They'll stop jumping over once they start laying, if you can bear to wait. They can only do these spectacular jumps when they are frisky young girls. I have had this problem with at least half my hens, but none of them do it now.

[stoice]

ooh thanks for that. Thought I was rearing some kind of olympic chook here!

[ajm200]

All of ours used to jump onto the top of the cube and use it as a launch pad to get over the netting. As Gallina said, they got bored with jumping when they started laying. Either that or they got smart and worked out that my little boy will let them out if they are patient. He launches himself at the netting and flattens it so that they can scramble over. We've had to reinforce the posts with metal garden props so that he can't flatten them anymore.

 

 

We've got one who can still fly despite clipped wings. She's not laying so I'm hoping that she'll start behaving when she grows up a bit.

[Rachel F]

I don't want to dash any hopes, but my three still make it out of the Omlet netting and they are all laying. We are not quite sure how they do it, but I suspect one of them jumps straight into the netting, whilst the other two scramble over... My husband (AKA Mr Tweedy) is convinced they cunningly plan their escape. Although our garden isnt secure, they have NEVER yet left the garden. But they have a great time wrecking my vegetable patch!!

We did have a hole in the Omlet netting - I have recently sent photos to Omlet and are awaiting their comment. One of the horizontal netting-thingy was missing (not sure if they have eaten their way out), so having now baracaded this gap up, we thought our problem was solved.

But the Girlies have simply found another way out...

I am very reluctant to put the Omlet netting round the vegetable patch and let them have free run of the garden. It seems the next logical step, but that means the Girlie's will have won!!!

Rachel.

[Egluntyne]

Are they wriggling underneath?

[Puffin]

I watched one of mine (Mary) fly over the netting this afternoon - the second one (hennie) only made it halfway up the netting. Interestingly the one that managed to fly over the top is the one thats not laying yet. She was quite impressive given they arent suppose to be able to fly and it was from ground level - no launchpad. Admittedly I have not clipped their wings yet - but whenever she flies out she is very keen to get back in again!

[ChrisP]

All 4 of mine manage to get out of the netting we have round the garden, so if you find anything that stops them, please please please let me know

[Rachel F]

In response to your question Eglutine... No they are definitely NOT wriggling underneath... Our netting is pegged down either with tent pegs or with pieces of wood. There is no way they can get underneath our netting. They are definitely getting over the top!

Rachel F

[Gamebird]

Just to add a bit of encouragement - I have netting similar to Omlet's but it is electrified so perhaps that makes a difference.

 

I have had no problems with the girls flying over it and they are unclipped.

 

I think as they get older and wiser (is that possible?) flying becomes a bit too bothersome but there will always be the exceptional chicken to prove the rule.