heth1986 Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Okay, before anyone says 'I told you so...' I guess I always knew in the back of my head that it was going to happen I let the new girls out into their FR run (lowish fences for those of you who are unaware) for an hour before bedtime, luckily I was close by supervising (and admiring) to make sure that there were no hasty escapes because I looked up to see little Wendy eyeing up the fence, "don't you dare" I thought, walked over to were she was looking and she came even closer to where I was standing and made a leap for it!!! Now, I'd love to think that she was leaping into my arms for a cuddle, however, 3 hours into her life with me, I very much doubt this was the case! I pushed her back in the right direction before her feet managed to reach the top rail of the fence but I'm pretty sure that had I not, she'd have had no problems whatsoever sitting on top and popping off the other side! I know I need to make the fences at least another foot higher (they're about 4 feet at the moment), I have a post and rail fence, the posts only come another 3 inches above the top rail, and the gaps are chicken wired in. I've been toying with the idea of getting some poultry netting and using this, or possibly just some more chicken wire (I've got LOADS spare!) nailed on higher than the rails and posts, to heighten the fence. Would 5-6 feet usually be sufficient if the top of the fence is not sturdy enough to support the chucks? Also, would electric fencing encourage them to stay in? I know it's more for keeping foxes out, although this isn't really an issue as my pup is left on guard with them if I'm not around! They both have a clipped wing and are only 20ish weeks old so I know they're still quite light and flighty. I'm trying to avoid any major alterations to current structures etc so any ideas / opinions would be greatly appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 I think I am going to have a similar problem with my new girls, lavender has flown over my head in the WIR The old girls don't bother trying to fly, they do a little running jumpy thing with abit of a flap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted February 9, 2012 Author Share Posted February 9, 2012 Lol, they're little wotsits aren't they?! The lady I had mine off didn't have a fence that much higher and had no problems so I'm half thinking that they will settle and learn where they're meant to be although I'm still going for the higher fence just to be safe! I'm currently looking up chicken friendly climbing plants to disguise the ugly fence I'm going to have to put up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 I am growing some passion flower over the WIR, was going to do Jasmine but believe it is poisonous. Why not try some climbing fruits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 .... left wing on each Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BizzyMomma Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Great link Dogmother...have got to clip my Warrens wings in the next few days.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted February 9, 2012 Author Share Posted February 9, 2012 Dogmother... it's done To be fair to her, she flapped about up to THE lowest part of the fence, I'm hoping the extra foot I'm planning will be the be all end all of it all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Thanks for that dogmother, I have only done it once almost a year ago, I was a bit cautious too. That clip is really clear, Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 ... I let the new girls out into their FR run (lowish fences for those of you who are unaware) for an hour before bedtime, ..... Now, I'd love to think that she was leaping into my arms for a cuddle, however, 3 hours into her life with me, I very much doubt this was the case! ... Reading your post, I think this is the real key here; if you have only had them 3hrs, then they haven't (yet) understood the pecking order e.g. you are Mrs Top Hen. You earn this status when they realise that you are the "Giver of all things" (food, water, dictator of foraging area aka FRing ) Once they understand the pecking order they are less likely to wander off into new areas of potential interest. Wing clipping, in my experience, has limited value; but, if it brings peace of mind then that's fine too. If you do have excess chicken wire then yes, you could top off the fencing with it but I think it needs to be at least 6ft. (Alternatively, you could use that chicken wire to make some stunning Ghost Dresses for your garden ) Almost 2 weeks ago now, I had a fox attack in the middle of the day, right in front of me. Thank goodness I hadn't wing clipped - and I do have 6' fencing! - simple because 3 of my ever-increasing-flock flew from the face of danger to safety over the fencing. Eventually they came home to the safety of my garden and their WIR. Just my two pennyworth. Hope you find a solution which suits you and your set up the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 I agree, wing clipping can seriously limit their options for escape when faced with a predator, but it does have its uses. I have had several hens which have been able to flap up onto the roof of the WIR, even with their wings clipped. A wobbly fence is your best bet for preventing then from perching on it, but it won't stop then flying over, unless it is well over 6ft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted February 10, 2012 Author Share Posted February 10, 2012 Thankyou for your thoughts, I hadn't really considered the pecking order part because I've simply moved them from one home to another but thankyou for flagging that point up... having read the chicken behaviour and psychology post also on here it's making alot more sense! I'm going to keep them in their enclosed run for a day or so whilst we make friends and until we manage to make the fence higher and then if that still doesn't do the job I guess we'll be building an aviary! Thanks again for advice and if anyone could just clarify if electric fencing is any better at keeping them in than normal wire / netting that would be super! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennym Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Hehe, cheeky girls. Just a word of warning - chicken wire is child's play for a fox to chew through. It shouldn't be your only defence - especially at night (but we're seeing the little blighters at all hours at the moment). Have fun with your new ladies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennym Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Oh, and I don't think electric fencing should be used for keeping them in - normally the wire is on the outside, to keep other things out. I don't know this for sure but I would think the shock would be too strong for them, and might do some damage. If its strong enough to deter a fox (or even keep horses in, which is a common use for it) I wouldn't want my hens touching it! I think higher fencing or a roof is the best bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted February 10, 2012 Author Share Posted February 10, 2012 Thanks JennyM, I was thinking of the omlet chicken netting rather than full blown electric fencing, probably should have clarified that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forge Cottage Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 On Foxes and Fences Can I just say that most foxes can scramble up or jump over suprisingly high fences. Click or paste these: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6YQdi5gbFg Chicken wire is a doddle as they just hook their claws in – and they are also experts at finding a weakness and chewing through, or forcing their way under. They tend to sniff all around the base of an obstacle first, then decide whether to climb or tunnel. If they tunnel, they start right up against the fence, which is why the Omlet runs have a dig proof skirt. This is what you need to do with a fence, or bury the wire deep down. For an easy life, foxes will also look for something nearby they can climb on and then leap from... So you need to make sure the fence is isolated from anything they can use as a springboard to jump over. Getting out again is a problem they will tackle later! Electric Netting We swear by electric netting and it has worked perfectly so far for nearly 4 years, touch wood and The fox approaches, gets a zap on the nose and clears off. They will try again later, so you need to keep the fence on when possible. Foxes cannot scramble up a net and would get caught up in it. If the fence is off, they may try chewing through, but they just do not jump over, all though they could clear that height. These fences are perfectly safe for chickens. Think of it as a surprise, not a shock. They quickly learn to respect the fence and it does not hurt them. On Airborne Chickens Our girls have always had clipped wings, but some young fit girls can still jump high when they want to. The big point is that they have to want to... At first, the fact the food and nestbox are inside the fence is not embedded and they often feel safer when regarding their world from on high - a natural roosting instinct. They are not trying to escape as you may presume. One of our new chickens jumped on top of our 6ft boundary hedge, stayed there for a few minutes, then jumped down again. It did make my heart pound as there are dogs next door, but she was just checking it out. Another young girl who had just started laying desparately wanted out, so that she could nest in the hedge. She jumped out and found a spot. I had to home her back to the nestbox and she was fine after that. Many chickens seem to have vertigo and didn't fancy jumping down from anything higher than about 2ft!! Sorry, I do go on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted February 10, 2012 Author Share Posted February 10, 2012 Super duper, thanks for that! I think I really did let them out too soon and it was probably all a bit overwhelming for the poor girls. I will, as a precaution, make my fences a bit higher (for chooks) and look at investing in some electric fencing (for fox), and hopefully my girls will settle in. They're quite happily clucking away in their enclosed run at the moment so I think I'll leaeve them be for now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 A couple of feet (high) of fruit netting tacked along the top of your fence will deter them from getting over - hens tend to jump onto and then off the other side rather than just zoom over. I only trim the wings of newbies or one of my old girls who is known as Boeing as she has such a fantastic wingspan to weight ratio! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted February 10, 2012 Author Share Posted February 10, 2012 Brilliant name Dogmother! Thankyou for that, I think that's the route I'm going to go down, we're going to try with chicken wire first, seeing as we have it in already, if not I'll try the fruit / poultry netting. My mum also suggeted leaning it in a bit at the top, she (Wendy, not my mother!) literally came straight up vertically at me and I guess with a clipped wing she wont be great at going up AND forwards, so hopefully she'll fly up, bumb her head, and think better of it! Boy oh boy, no one told me it would be this difficult! Luckily I'm hooked already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JS1 Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Oh, and I don't think electric fencing should be used for keeping them in - normally the wire is on the outside, to keep other things out. I don't know this for sure but I would think the shock would be too strong for them, and might do some damage. If its strong enough to deter a fox (or even keep horses in, which is a common use for it) I wouldn't want my hens touching it! In my experience, chicken's feathers largely insulate them from the electricity, but if they touch the fence with their beaks they squawk like mad - then tend to stay away from it. It doesn't seem to do them any damage (unlike the poor frogs and toads which were electrocuted before we put up protective low level 'toad fencing' round the outside). Incidentally when I mentioned to someone that we needed more toad fencing, he asked why the chickens needed to be protected from toads. I pointed out that if they actually survived the fence, they'd be unlikely to survive the chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Same here, we have quite a 'circle of life' going on... the toads eat the slugs, then the chickens eat the toads they also scavenge around by the woodpiles hoping a mouse will show its head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JS1 Posted February 10, 2012 Share Posted February 10, 2012 Gosh yes, watching the chickens play 'baby mouse' rugby was one of the horrors of last year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
