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[Goldie]

I acquired 2 new chickens on Sunday, POL Warrens, and we have had 2 eggs already from them

 

We wanted to keep them apart as sort of a quarantine before introducing them to our existing 2, however this hasn't gone to plan! Their temporary home (a rabbit hutch and an uncovered run) lasted about 3 hours before both of them had flown over the 3ft high barrier. Fair enough, we hadn't clipped their wings enough, after looking on the internet at where we should cut.

 

So we let the existing girls out to free range, and put Henny & Penny in the more secure coop. Or so we thought. We introduced the pairs last night under the cover of darkness and apart from a bit of comb-pecking from the top girl Speckledy, we seem ok. Only problem is they're now escaping from the original coop - with 5 ft netting! It has happened 3 times this morning. I want them to get to know me and like me but if I keep having to chase and catch them like this it'll never happen!

 

I can't alter this coop until I have someone to help and have bought some more netting. What heigh fence should the girls be able to flap and get over? I wouldn't like to cut their wings any closer. We never had this problem with Whitey & Speckledy....they are heavier than these young two but never seem interested in escaping. Looks like we have 2 houdinis!

 

How high are your enclosures?

[torgrosset]

It's frustrating, isn't it? I lost one of my original ex-bats (Twinkle-toes - she was my daughters hen) because she was a master houdini and sadly escpaped whilst I was out and was never to be seen again. I have an open topped run made by my hubby and the fence is taller than me, so at least 5ft6+ high. Two of my ex-bats used to constantly escape, however they were quite tame and used to come for some bread so it was easy to catch them. I couldn't understand how they were getting out, so decided to watch them one day. They used to get on the platform/table and then on top of the coop and then make a leap onto the top of the run fence and out. Ever since I lost Twink I've clipped their wings, including my two recently aquired new girls. I've watched Lulu (the other houdini) try on many occasions to escape without success. I guess you ought to see if they're managing to get on top of the coop, especially if it's on a platform or table of some sort, because from experience I can't see they could get high enough up 5ft or more in one go - Lulu can manage bout 2ft6-ish at the most with her clipped wing. Hope you have some luck!

[charly1979]

hope you manage to find a way to stop them escaping

 

my 7 when at home with me have a normal 3-4ft height fence to contain them I have had the odd chance escapee where they have found a weakness in the fence yet they have just spent 3 weeks at my mums she has a 6 ft fence and the little ratbags all found a way out, mum didn't mind too much but my gran who is in her 90's and has an annexe in the garden was not overly happy as one of mine spent a lot of time in her garden digging and scratching, she did put a 1ft barrier around her flower bed which Connie ignored and jumped straight over hmmmmmm I doubt she will be welcoming them back when they have their May holiday

[Goldie]

What are they like eh Luckily no more escapees from the coop, but it did confuse me as there's no platform for them to sit on and get over. The coop area is totally enclosed and the open run has nothing in it to help them!

Now just got to bite the bullet and let them out to free range, after I saw one sitting on next-doors fence (3-4ft high) I haven't dared!

Hopefully it's just because they're a bit flighty at the moment. I'll let them settle in for another week I think.