How high can chickens fly with wings cut????

[peewee]

I have had chickens for about 6 months now and my run is about 30' x 40' and 5' high. The "kids" that I have now have always stayed within this area and have never jumped the fence. I bought four hens from the feed store and after a quarantine time I have put them in with my others. Instead of the flock teaching them to stay within the run they are teaching the flock to jump the fence. I can probably extend the height of my run and wrap the extension with chicken wire but I really have no idea how high this should be. Hopefully with this and cutting the wings I will be able to keep the "wild women" and now the rest of the flock in the run. I have no way of putting a roof over everything as I have seen with the beautiful runs that I have seen here. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Akane]

Depends on the breed. You may just have to try it and see. Heavier breeds can't make it over 5' without their wings clipped. My japanese bantams can get 16' up into the rafters and could probably still make it over 5' with wings clipped. They are excellent fliers. My EEs have to expend a lot of effort going from roost to roost to board to door frame to the rafters when they want to roost with the japs.

 

[peewee]

Akane, thanks so much for getting back with me. One of the girls came back this afternoon with one of her friends. I was able to get one of them but the other scaled my eight foot privacy fence with no problem. Who could have guessed their fat butts could fly that high with clipped wings.

Oh well! Guess the run is going to have to be 10' min. I just feel so bad about leaving them in their quarantine pen.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Try clipping just one wing next time. That will put them off balance and make it much more difficult for them to control their lift.

 

[skand]

Get some netting over the top if you can. If you cant get it all over the top, the first three feet around the edges should discourage them. Just some fruit tree netting should work.

 

[peewee]

JennsPeeps, I wish that I had known that before I clipped. With all my other birds I have to clip both wings so I figured that chickens would be the same. Should have done some research first I guess.'

'
Skand, that is a great idea. Have to go out and look at the run tomorrow and see how I can go about putting up about three to four feet of netting. I need to see if I can find the netting that you are referring to.'

'

 

[skand]

We found ours at Tractor Supply. Think it measures 38' X 20' ..i think! It's lightweight, and wont hurt the birds if they fly into it. They wont even get stuck, small holes. Some people tell you to get 2" holes, but that gives the bird room to get thier head caught and strangle. Or wings tangled, and you know that's a huge mess to undo. 9 lbs of squwaking, flapping, and fighting the hand that helps.
Good luck

 

[BaronRenfrew]

There's another thing you can do. Stromberg's sells (or they used to) a brace that goes on the wing that stops them from extending it. It's used for pheasants but adjustable and should fit a chicken. Don't know what it costs.

Should be available at other places.

 

[debilorrah]

Our coop has a roof. Yes a slanted covered roof - and a porch light.

 

[UrbanMama]

Quote:
How would this stuff stand up to snow or ice?