Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Eggshell]

Another beginner's question. One of my new chickens flew out over the electric netting in a panic when I first got her (thankfully it wasn't on, as one of the other chickens then started trying to throw herself through it to reach the first one). I was expecting that she couldn't fly; she'd only had her wing clipped that morning! I want to be able to leave them inside the electric netting when I'm not there - not sure whether I need to clip her wing more or think about some sort of cover for their patch. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[sparkysmum]

Yes, I am very familiar with this scenario All of our chickens that have had their wings clipped have successfully escaped over OH's carefully constructed fencing. One even climbs up the fencing then hops from the top ( not electric thankfully) Poor Simon, its an on going joke & he is determined to defeat them. The worst offenders are the scots dumpies who like bumble bees shouldn't even be able to leave the ground

 

It would be funny but I really want to protect one of my borders and veg patch from my little rotavators. I think the secret is to make sure they have no launch pads ie objects/shrubs theys can jump onto before launching themselves over the netting. Simon has been working on this for a number of years now and am pleased to say that we have had some success over the last couple of weeks. Downside is that my once pretty garden now resembles a ploughed fortress but we will win,one day.

 

Good luck in your attempts Alli x

[Blackrocksrock]

Mine flew from the top of the eglu run - now we have no fencing - they free range!

[Bramble]

I've never had this problem before the arrival of "Blossom" a couple of weeks ago - she's an incredible escape artist and her favourite trick is "flying" straight up on to my shoulder!!! I am going to need to rethink my FR regime - she's clearly never going to stay in the fenced off bit of the garden ...

[Eggasperated]

I have used electric netting for several years and have occasionally had this problem with new girls. As well as making sure they have no 'launch pads' near the fence I have also had to resort to a series of tall garden canes round the edge of the fence with some additional fencing on the top . The fence I used is a rigid green plastic one I bought from Home Bargains, it was quite cheap and also being rigid I was able to slide it onto the canes easily and be sure it wasn't something the chickens could get tangled up in.

 

Welcome to the world of outwitting chickens .

[Patricia W]

We gave up the electric fence when we discovered our ex-bats simply went through the netting even faster when spurred on by an electric shock!

 

If your chickens are bantams, they are often very good at flying. Luckily, our girls now prefer to stay with their cockerel who is not a flyer. But sometimes in the summer, the girls fly into a nearby tree to roost and then have to be plucked like flowers from amongst the branches and put to bed.