I know this is a goat forum but I know a lot of you on here have chickens too so was hoping I could get a answer to a quick question I have. I am gonna make a little run/ coop for them to be in when I don't want to have them roaming the whole yard. I am not sure how tall the fence should be w/ out them being able to fly out. I know if you clip their wings they can't fly as high but I am not sure how much that help. I was thinking of getting a 4 fit. high welded wire fence for their physical barrier. I would think they could fly out with their normal wings but if I clip one of their wings would that prevent them from "flying the coop"? Any comments welcome :)
You need to be a member of Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats to add comments!
Replies
I don't think I will have a problem with them getting out. The coop is pretty large for a few chickens it will be 16 ft. X 32 ft.
Yes. that size fencing would work! Just FYI... clipping one wing did NOT work for my chickens. (and I know what I'm doing... used to work in a pet store, and clipped a TON of wings) I think the reason it didn't work, is because they were young, and smaller, and so light enough to fly (and fly straight UP) with only one wing clipped. I haven't lost any to a predator yet... they can still hop and jump pretty high with both wings clipped, they just can't catch any air and REALLY get up and over anything. The use of netting over the top would solve that issue too, though. Kind of hard to do with a tree in the middle of it all. Sounds like a larger space too. :)
So I assume it would be safe to buy the 4 ft. high fence w/ 2 in. by 4. inch openings? The area I would fence off would give them enough protection from "air" predators and at night I would lock them in their coop so no Raccoon or opossums could get them. The area I will fence off is the same area I would have liked for my goats but it has a apricot tree in it and that is toxic to the goats. SO yes their is tree protection. It is a large tree that would be great for providing shade to them too.
Clip one wing, they can still fly but fly in a circle. It gives them enough "lift" to escape a predator. I used 4-1/2 foot or 5-foot 2x4 lawn fencing which works beautifully and have not had to clip. Only clip if the need is there. If you have no barriers, you can put netting over the area and not worry about escape . . . or hawks and eagles. I have trees in my run so they have shelter to run to from an air attack. If you have no trees, be sure you give them some sort of escape place open on all sides for them to run under.
Nope. Without flight feathers, they are too heavy to fly. They can still fly if you leave ONE wing, but they can't fly straight. Both wings removes all ability to fly.
I have to clip both wings for fencing that low, but it works! :) They can get through the squares on my cattle panels when there isn't any small wire fencing to keep kids in.