Hens - How high should a fence be?

lanod2407

Getting hens shortly and I'm looking for some practical advice on how high I need to erect a fence. I'll most probably clip one wing on each bird to reduce their ability to "fly the coop", but want the fence to keep them in. It'll be somewhat close to the house, so I want to avoid overkill ........ i.e. the missus doesn't want a recreation of Colditz outside the back yard!!!

The benefit of your collective experience greatly appreciated.

Ford4000

Million dollar question that, i had hens that wouldnt fly over the meal dish and others that could take off and scale a 7ft fence, all depends on the birds really but id say aroung 5.5-6ft would be good f its a tight pen

blue5000

Neighbours have a large free range unit, 8ft fences keep the hens in, but foxes have been seen jumping out!

CJhaughey

You don't need a high fence to keep foxy out, a 45deg angle on a 2ft section off the top facing out will stop foxy jumping over.
But remember to make sure the wire is buried under the soil as well other wise they can dig in under the wire.
I use electrified netting, it's easy and fast to move and nothing goes through it without getting a bang from the energizer.
You can get 50m lengths with the poles already attached.

nbrady20009

I have a 10ft high fence and put a top on it as well so it's safe from all sides. I didn't clip their wings because if ever they were attacked or chased at least they would have some chance of survival.

HereIGo

CJhaughey wrote: »

I use electrified netting, it's easy and fast to move and nothing goes through it without getting a bang from the energizer.
You can get 50m lengths with the poles already attached.

Where did you get the netting and what did it cost?

CJhaughey

HereIGo wrote: »

Where did you get the netting and what did it cost?

I got mine from ebay.de, I think it was 100 per 50m, I bought 2 lengths.

lanod2407

CJ - what product do I search for on ebay to find the electrified fence?

HereIGo

CJhaughey wrote: »

I got mine from ebay.de, I think it was 100 per 50m, I bought 2 lengths.

Thanks for that.

fastrac

Try Dingle poultry .He has the fencing.

Curled Feather

lanod2407 wrote: »

Getting hens shortly and I'm looking for some practical advice on how high I need to erect a fence. I'll most probably clip one wing on each bird to reduce their ability to "fly the coop", but want the fence to keep them in. It'll be somewhat close to the house, so I want to avoid overkill ........ i.e. the missus doesn't want a recreation of Colditz outside the back yard!!!

The benefit of your collective experience greatly appreciated.

Some breeds are known to be flighty, others are happy to remain on the ground. It's a case of choosing the less flighty ones... Placing any kind of railing across the top of the fence will encourage the hens to roost on it and down they come on the other side when they are ready to forage again.

Clipping one wing helps. We use both chainlink and electric netting both with the same effect. The electric netting seem to be effective against the fox, s/he seems to recognise that it is 'something more that it looks'

Good luck with your new enterprise, having hens is just so rewarding

CJhaughey

Curled Feather wrote: »

Clipping one wing helps. We use both chainlink and electric netting both with the same effect. The electric netting seem to be effective against the fox, s/he seems to recognise that it is 'something more that it looks'

Never underestimate the foxes cunning, they know very well what an electric fence does, but the one day the power goes out at night......

Curled Feather

CJhaughey wrote: »

Never underestimate the foxes cunning, they know very well what an electric fence does, but the one day the power goes out at night......

Absolutely agree. During the snow in January it was very interesting each morning to observe her/his nocturnal treks around the pens. They are opportunists, they moment they spot a weakness they avail of it.

ADDON

I did a great job of keeping the foxes (and my dogs) out.... but the bloody mink got in and decimated the entire flock!!!!! :eek:

Don't know how to resolve that one