Part 0800.0005

[Millie-Annie]

Marigold is my now 28 week Suffolk Noir. She has had her wing clipped by the vet, but she still escapes from everywhere. She climbs, she jumps (very high) she still manages to fly a short distance. She stresses poor Millicent out, as she gets left behind. The only answer is to keep her locked in the run, but I don't want to, neither do I want her to destroy the garden, she has a huge area at the top but she gets over the fence all the time.

 

Once she is over, she paddles in the water feature, digs all the plants up, destroys my rockery and terrorises the cats.

 

Any suggestions??????

 

PS She is built more like my neighbours White Star (another Houdini) than my Warren

[chickyhazel]

If you put a panel on top of the fence sloping up and into where she is kept (if that makes sense) it should make it difficult for her to jump. Putting perches etc in the garden should keep her more occupied (but NOT near the fence where she can jump over. If Millicent is feeling left out, why not get another 2 chickens to keep her company? (Great excuse to get more chickens! )She will dig up evrything and anything, so you could try putting chicken wire around areas you want protected, even if they aren't in her area, just in case.

[Millie-Annie]

Thanks, for the fence suggestion. We are getting three more ex-batts on 6th June so she should have some company, once they are all settled.

 

I think Marigold thinks she is a weather vane. She likes to stand on top of the guinea pig run, pointing North

[cluckingmad]

Shoudn't laugh, but the idea of her paddling in the water feature is wonderful!

 

We have a hen like that - Freckles. She's an absolute escape artist, but looks so funny trying to find new ways to foil our attempts to keep her in the back garden that we forgive her any mischief and just give her a snuggle when she (inevitably) manages to break through the defenses and waddles happily over to see us!

[cooker]

Your post made me giggle!! I am not sure how ethical this is...but... when our light sussex decided she wanted to jump over the nearly 2m high fence around her run into my veg patch we clipped her other wing, so she now has two wings clipped, it worked! she has never escaped again!

 

I do also have a fence around my veg patch, just made with light plastic garden netting, they can get over it if they run at it, but they mostly ignore it and it works fine (and didnt cost a fortune!)

 

Rachel

[chickiepiggies]

my little amber Snowy escapes all the time, we have no chives, lettuce, mint and tomotoe plants left now because she eats them all and then joins me in the house for a beak around, i take her back outside and the other two are pacing furiously by the fence because they are two heavy to jump over

 

She gets through the smallest of gaps and flutters over everything because she is so small and light i have now given up and moved all the plants behind netting

[Millie-Annie]

My husband mentioned clipping the other wing, but I wasn't sure if that would help or hinder?

 

Her build doesn't help or rather does help, she is really tall with long legs and a long neck.

 

She walks like a goose stepping Russian soldier

 

They both come in the house much to the cats disgust. They are terrified of Marigold as she uses her neck feathers like a boa constrictor uses its hood, she scares me

[jennydavies]

I wondered if clipping the other wing might solve it. I know clipping one wing is supposed to "unbalance" their flight, but maybe doing the other one as well might "weaken" the ability. I would give it a try, you certainly won't do her any harm.

[Millie-Annie]

I can't do it The vet did the other one and she fought tooth and nail. Can you come over?