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

[FrostRanger]

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....

Young pullets are especially nimble, it's even more important that they have a covered area than the adults

 

[StinkyAcres]

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

A heavy knotted poultry netting would probably be best. Fishing net might work too. I've never used either though.

 

[FrostRanger]

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

You have quite a few options, chicken wire or hardware cloth work, deer netting is cheap, fish netting is durable and a tarp has the added benefit of blocking sunlight but it collects rain and snow so that has to be accounted for. Of course there are more permanent means of making a covered run but those are more expensive

 

[StinkyAcres]

I would advise against using plastic deer or bird netting. It's flimsy and animals can get caught and die in it.

 

[RedStarMadame]

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!

I'm new, but we connected chicken wire to the entire floor of the run (/dog kennel originally), connected it to the bottom of all 4 sides and covered it with ssnd.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I'm new, but we connected chicken wire to the entire floor of the run (/dog kennel originally), connected it to the bottom of all 4 sides and covered it with ssnd.

The OP's chickens are jumping over the fence not digging under.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Either redo the entire thing with taller fencing, high enough so the entire area is walk-in without issue even with netting on top, or for a less secure solution you can ring the fenceline with tall t-posts/u-posts and attach tension wire to the top to hold netting up. You'll need taller supports in the center in either case.

In my set up you can see the chain link is 4' tall, the u-posts are 6'. The coop itself provides center support.

 

[RedStarMadame]

The OP's chickens are jumping over the fence not digging under.

We have chickenwire covering the top as well.

 

[Swivelhip]

Clip on wing? Might slow them down, They look like “healthy” girls…

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Clip on wing? Might slow them down, They look like “healthy” girls…

I have clipped their wings. They were still escaping.
Thanks for the comment!