N&J Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 In an attempt to reclaim part of the garden we have put up a 3 ft high fence to keep the chickens in. However one of the them keeps flying over - the other is far to fat and lazy! We have never clipped the wings before so we have clipped one of Rita's wings and this hasn't made any difference. We can clip her other wing and increase the height of the fence with some netting or trellis. Does anyone have any top tips??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 You should only clip one wing, because this unbalances the bird whilst in flight! Have you trimmed enough of the feathers? Maybe adding trellis would make the area look more attractive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 3ft would definately not be high enough for my two. My fences are about 6 -7ft and even thats had one or two scary moments I have clipped the girls wings (one on each) and it does seem to make their "flying" technique a bit wobbly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Shut her in until she learns where the food is ?! Megan went walkabout (flyabouts?) at the beginning to escape the others. I kept shutting her in the eglu run in case we lost her We've got a 5-6 foot fence of chicken wire which they have been known to scale, but generally don't. They seem to accept it as their territory. I notice if I let them have the run of the garden it makes them more likely to squeeze out of the pen door the day after as if they think they are now allowed permamently. How about omlet netting? (I've mever used myself though). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 If you want to increase the height of your fence, then use something flimsy - they don't like going over anything wobbly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 I think mine are a bit dim - I've got about 2' high chicken wire around my flower bed to keep them off for a while. They patrol up and down it but can't figure out how to get over! Not complaining though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 Sounds like border patrols Snowy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 How's it going Rita and Mavis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 If only I knew how to keep my three in! At the minute we made a little fence around the back of the eglu so they couldn't jump off the run into the garden. Now they do huge flapping jumps over the run and over the fence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riane Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 Rita and Mavis are great.They are really developing lots of character. Both are laying daily now and ...well...its just brill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 9, 2007 Share Posted March 9, 2007 and ...well...its just brill. That just sums it all up doesn't it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 All my girls would easily jump 3 foot fences. Our fence is just one of those plastic coated wire ones so we added another 3 foot of chicken wire to the top of that and they don't even try to jump it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 When scanning through various chicken websites I spotted a metal clip that attaches to the wing and is supposed to stop the girlies getting lift off. I cant find the site now - but I was intrigued about how it might work and if it hurt the chooks. My guess was that when it was fixed the extra weight when flapping made them not be able to take off - OR - could it be that when they tried to flap the mettal peice hit the bird and possibly hurt them? I'll keep looking to see if I can find it again - but doesnt sound like something I would want to try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snaps Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 You probably ned to clip more off the wing. All our chickens have tried flying/jumping their three foot fence and gate but clipping always stops them. Sometimes we've needed to go back and take off more but it always works. And they don't seem to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
