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

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

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.

So how far could they fly to get out? How far away should it be? Would 3ish ft be enough?

 

[FrostRanger]

The only real solution is to rebuild the run. The fence is too short which as you found out makes it easy for chickens to jump out and impractical to cover

 

[FrostRanger]

So how far could they fly to get out? How far away should it be? Would 3ish ft be enough?

My hens can jump my 6ft fence, the only surefire way to prevent flyouts is to cover the run

 

[StinkyAcres]

So how far could they fly to get out? How far away should it be? Would 3ish ft be enough?

I don't think that would be enough, but you might have to test (without the dog) to see what works. Is it possible to reconfigure the fence so the garden bed is not inside it at all?

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Here are some pictures of my run:

View attachment 4097898View attachment 4097901View attachment 4097902

This is kind of off topic, but my pullets also keep flying out of their run and into the big run (it's not in the picture because they are old). They jump from their makeshift coop and over the fence, which is the same fencing as the extension run. I am worried that they will jump into the yard and get killed....

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I don't think that would be enough, but you might have to test (without the dog) to see what works. Is it possible to reconfigure the fence so the garden bed is not inside it at all?

I suppose I could make it so that the garden bed isn't inside it, but they have their compost in there, along with a big raspberry bush in the summer.

 

[StinkyAcres]

This is kind of off topic, but my pullets also keep flying out of their run and into the big run (it's not in the picture because they are old). They jump from their makeshift coop and over the fence, which is the same fencing as the extension run. I am worried that they will jump into the yard and get killed....

Yeah, that fence is just not going to work for your chickens, I'm afraid. And they learn bad habits from the others.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I suppose I could make it so that the garden bed isn't inside it, but they have their compost in there, along with a big raspberry bush in the summer.

It's not worth the risk.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

My hens can jump my 6ft fence, the only surefire way to prevent flyouts is to cover the run

What is the best material to use for covering a run?

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Yeah, that fence is just not going to work for your chickens, I'm afraid. And they learn bad habits from the others.

makes sense. I will have to take action...