PLEASE HELP!! My chickens keep escaping the run and getting killed!

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I HAD 5 hens... now I have 3. Two of them kept on escaping the run, and then my dog killed them. I have a small run with a very tall wall; connected to that is a large extension run with a much shorter wall that they keep jumping out of. I have clipped their wings but it didn't stop it. The two hens that were killed by the dog had been repeatedly escaping the run; if I saw them, I would put them back in. The other 3 hens don't seem to escape at all. I have 6 pullets who are 6wks old and two of them are little escape artists and I think that, when they are older, they will be able to escape the big run.

The small run wall is a little over 6ft and the extension run wall is 4.5ft. They keep jumping from the garden bed and out of the run. The extension run is not a permanent wall, so I could replace it; it's just expensive to do. Just the small run is too small for all 9 hens, but it is not too small for 3. Should I lock my 3 hens in the small run until further notice?

What are some tips? What should I do? I am trying to train my dog not to chase chickens but he is a German Shepherd and his prey drive in very high

Just let me know if pictures would be helpful!

 

[Appalachickens]

This is not chickens, but my coonhound figured out how to scale the 5' fence in the backyard to escape. We had to extend the fence upward a couple of feet leaning inward like the top of a prison fence. I suspect you answer will be similar - sounds like they are letting you know they need a taller fence or else wire/netting of some sort over the run.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Should I lock my 3 hens in the small run until further notice?

Yes.

What are some tips? What should I do?

Could you post photos of your run(s)? Chickens are more likely to jump over a fence with a solid top rail that they can clearly see. Extending the fence with something thinner and floppy usually does the trick.

 

[DonyaQuick]

Should I lock my 3 hens in the small run until further notice?

I would say yes if you don't want more bad events. Unless it was the remaining 3 bullying the others into escaping, there is more likely something tempting outside that they want.

Do you have a picture of this setup or a diagram showing the layout? It sounds like something really needs to be over the top...I have had a good flier sail easily over an 8ft tall structure and potentially over a 12ft one so taller fences are not necessarily the best solution.

If your dog has already killed two birds, all you will be able to do training-wise with any certainty is to teach it not to chase birds when you're around. When you're not around, the risk will still be there and then either the dog needs to be properly contained or the birds do.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Yes.

Could you post photos of your run(s)? Chickens are more likely to jump over a fence with a solid top rail that they can clearly see. Extending the fence with something thinner and floppy usually does the trick.

I just locked them up

The fence does not have anything they can jump onto, they just jump right over it. Here are some photos:

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I would say yes if you don't want more bad events. Unless it was the remaining 3 bullying the others into escaping, there is more likely something tempting outside that they want.

Do you have a picture of this setup or a diagram showing the layout? It sounds like something really needs to be over the top...I have had a good flier sail easily over an 8ft tall structure and potentially over a 12ft one so taller fences are not necessarily the best solution.

If your dog has already killed two birds, all you will be able to do training-wise with any certainty is to teach it not to chase birds when you're around. When you're not around, the risk will still be there and then either the dog needs to be properly contained or the birds do.

I couldn't really put anything over the top because then I wouldn't be able to get in to clean the coop, water the chickens, etc.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I would say yes if you don't want more bad events. Unless it was the remaining 3 bullying the others into escaping, there is more likely something tempting outside that they want.

Do you have a picture of this setup or a diagram showing the layout? It sounds like something really needs to be over the top...I have had a good flier sail easily over an 8ft tall structure and potentially over a 12ft one so taller fences are not necessarily the best solution.

If your dog has already killed two birds, all you will be able to do training-wise with any certainty is to teach it not to chase birds when you're around. When you're not around, the risk will still be there and then either the dog needs to be properly contained or the birds do.

Here are some pictures of my run:

 

[StinkyAcres]

Hmm...that looks difficult to modify. Other than buying a whole new fence, I'm stumped on what you could do. My chicken fence (welded wire) is 3 feet high and my chickens have never jumped over it, just the gate. For some hens the grass is always greener on the other side!

 

[StinkyAcres]

Here are some pictures of my run:

View attachment 4097898View attachment 4097901View attachment 4097902

Ah, okay, I can see the garden bed you are talking about. I'd say move the fence as far away from that as possible.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Hmm...that looks difficult to modify. Other than buying a whole new fence, I'm stumped on what you could do. My chicken fence (welded wire) is 3 feet high and my chickens have never jumped over it, just the gate. For some hens the grass is always greener on the other side!

They LOVE coming out into the yard where there is a lot of bugs and more grass!