Free ranging chicken woes - advice needed

18 years ago

Hello,

Problem number 1: Our full grown hens have a small enclosed, predator proof run outside of their chicken coop. We built it small because when we got the chicks, we envisioned them to be free range. We want them to have access to the grass and bugs in the yard and would like free range eggs. We live on 5 acres of woods, but there is a grassy lawn outside of their run. When we let them out, they make a beeline for the woods that goes to our closest neighbors house. They then like to go up to her house and do whatever chickens do. They always come back, though. I don't want to tick off the neighbor. What can I do to discourage them from going that way. Her lawn is controlled by pesticides and I don't want that in my eggs. The border between her lawn and my lawn has a fence. The chickens stay away from that but go into the woods where there is no fence and then go into her yard. Is there anyway to discourage them from going that direction other than a fence? They have many other woods to go into. They just pick the side that goes to the neighbors house. The fence would need to be high because they easily fly over the 4 foot fence to our goats. A tall fence in the woods would seem a little odd. But if needed, we'll think that direction.

Problem number two. We like to let the chickens roam in the goat area when we aren't watching them to make sure they won't go to the neighbors yard. They easily fly out of the 4 foot fencing. Would 6 foot fencing contain them? I have also thought about clipping their wings, but am a little bit sqeamish about it. Does it hurt them? Would this be wise?

Thanks so much!

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Comments (8)

lesli8
18 years ago
Clipping their wings would just be clipping the feathers, wich is more or less like cutting your hair. I think some times if you get really close to the skin cutting fearthers sometimes they will blead, but it does help keeping them contained. You will have to do it periodically.
erinluchsinger
18 years ago
Do you have a rooster? I had the same problem as you (more or less) until I got a rooster, and then they stayed closer to home. A rooster tends to stay close to home, and his girls will follow his lead. Worked for me.
Erin
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judyag_44
18 years ago
I HAVE A GOOD BIT OF EXPERIENCE (9 YEARS WORTH) OF CLIPPING FLIGHT FEATHERS IN PARROTS AND BELIEVE THAT THE "SCIENCE" WOULD BE THE SAME.
YOU WOULD NEED TO CLIP ONLY THE PRIMARIES (THE ROW OF LONGEST FEATHERS) USING THE TIPS OF THE SECONDARIES (SECOND ROW) AS A "CLIP LINE".....THIS IS NOT PAINFUL IN ANY WAY AND YOU WILL NEVER CAUSE BLEEDING IF.....IF....YOU LOOK AT EACH FEATHER AS YOU CLIP IT AND AVOID "BLOOD FEATHERS"....THOSE ARE THE GROWING FEATHERS THAT ARE REPLACING MOULTED FEATHERS. BLOODFEATHERS SHOW A BLOOD COLOR THROUGH THE SHAFT AND ARE EASILY AVOIDED.

SINCE HENS ARE SO VERY HEAVY BODIED IT SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY TO CLIP TOO MANY OF THE FEATHERS IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM EARTH BOUND.....I WOULD START WITH 8 OR SO ON EACH WING (THE FIRST 8 BEGINNING AT THE EXTREME END OF THE WING) AND WATCH. IF THEY ARE STILL ABLE TO "LIFT OFF"...CLIP 2 OR 3 MORE.

GOOD LUCK.

JUDY
velvet_sparrow
18 years ago
Wing clipping doesn't hurt, but since it feels weird to the bird and vibrates their wing, it is usually a two person job--the chickens will struggle and cluck, so be ready. If you do an internet search on 'how to clip a birds wings' you'll see plenty of diagrams that show you just where to cut. If your birds are lightweight or banties, they'll fly better than the heavy breeds such as Orpingtons do.

I'd say a 6 foot fence with clipped wings and nothing to jump up on near the fence should do it. Try and make the neighbor's yard less attractive while spiffing up the area you WANT them to go with water, food and bushes to rest under. Routinely feed them goodies that take time to eat and can't be readily carried away in the favored spot to help teach them that 'this is the place to be'.

Velvet ~:>
vancleaveterry
16 years ago
When clipping feathers, don't you only have to clip ONE wing? Instead of both as recomended above?

A bird with one wing clipped cannot fly,,, until new feathers come in.
skagit_goat_man_
16 years ago
"Flying" is one of the chickens big defenses. Why would you want to take that away from them especially since you want to pasture the birds? If a short run of fencing will work I'd suggest Premiers poultry netting (electric). Tom
vancleaveterry
16 years ago
I agree Skagit. I wouldn't do it, but I did see it done once to a peacock around 1980. And that peacock was killed by a dog about a week later.
vinnyc
16 years ago
My hens were flying over the fence into my neighbors yard, where their dog was loving chasing them around. He never caught any, but just by luck. I clipped the flight feathers on one of their wings. Problem solved. After they molt, you have to do it again. It's easy, painless, and saved them from the dog.

Free ranging chicken woes - advice needed

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lesli8

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