Keeping chickens is simple and rewarding, and you can keep chickens as easily in a town garden as you can in the countryside. I have a 4 foot fence, which contains 20 chickens within a 1/3 acre yard. To give the chicken wire structure, use a tomato cage or a couple of stakes. That said, there is no solution that works 100 percent of the time. 13. Chicken wire is your friend . If you have a ten-foot tall fence, and you get a Junglefowl and he feels like being on the other side, he will be. I learned that the first year when I used a 2 foot high welded wire for fencing! There are plenty of threads on this forum from people that have discovered that. May 23, 2014 - how high should my chicken run fence be. Fence off the plants. A deer proof garden fence should be at least 7 feet in height. This handbook provides an introduction to key aspects of raising and breeding chickens. A simple fence made with chicken wire and some form of support will usually be enough to keep the pests away. But the best way to keep out deer is to install a fence. For more docile animals, like sheep, you can get by with page wire – but you’re going to want it to be tall enough so that predators like coyotes are kept out. The main question I had been wanting to know is how to keep the chickens from destroying my beloved garden when they are free-ranging. This site should contain everything you need to know about this fantastic hobby to get you started. If so, you will probably need to clip one wing, that is, trim the leading flight feathers to make them feel unbalanced. Will a fence really keep them out for good? Our garden is about 80X80 so it was a big undertaking. A little too much...and now your grass is ripped up, your flowers trampled and your vegetables eaten. We use the heavy wire to keep out deer and the chicken wire to keep out woodchucks. That’s because fences are effective at keeping chickens out. I’ve been keeping chickens now for some time. Electric Poultry Netting is to keep the foxes out, not necessarily to keep the chickens in i.e. The reality is simple, if you want to keep chickens in the backyard, then council regulations require you to have an escape proof chicken coop. If you have an existing fence that won’t keep foxes out, a 3 wire electric fence could be the answer to keep your chickens safe. For very small areas like a 25 x 25 garden area, 6 foot high fences can be adequate in some areas with light deer pressure. Chicken wire can also be used to make an actual fence to keep cats out. The only problem, my jerk chickens hop right over (they have 4 ACRES to roam but nope they think they need to be in the garden)! Fence Height Deer will jump over common garden fences. Then simply wrap the chicken wire around and over it to create an enclosed area where you can keep plants or a garden safe. Install Safety Shelters Now, I would say the standard fence is four foot tall. We just put a fence around our garden, I was so sure it would keep everything out-its 5 ft tall livestock panels wrapped in chicken wire staked to the ground (we have a terrible rabbit problem). Picket Fencing. Let’s go over your options. Tape and poly rope is good if there are horses on the other side of the fence because they can then see the electrified conductor more easily. Welcome to my Beginners Guide to Keeping Chickens. Chickens and gardens CAN live together, so long as everyone knows their place. These include. Well, if you want a fence to be an effective coyote deterrent, taller is definitely better. However, fencing off a porch or deck is often undesirable for many people. If a fence around the more vulnerable plants is not practical, there are a few easy fixes. The height of the fence you need to prevent flying over depends on the breed and density of chickens (see those topics, below). While my fence is only about 6 1 / 2 tall, the angle of the support posts make it effectively much higher, as the offset width between top and bottom strand is about 3'. some birds may be more flighty than others, and they may fly out of the pen. The net, however, is a guaranteed safety measure to keep them inside the fence and their activity area. The best way to keep them at bay is with a sturdy, well-built fence, according to experts. There is netting that you can buy that is fairly inexpensive and very tall. Full fencing and rail; Chicken wire or wire cloth; Yellow ribbon; Hotwire or electric fence; These options have different benefits and drawbacks to them. Bantam chickens and other lightweight fowl can sometimes fly over a 6-foot fence, so keep them in check by clipping their primary feathers or adding 2 feet to the fence height. If your chickens are free-ranging you can erect an electric fence around the perimeter to keep predators away. Some people keep chickens confined with a 3’ high fence. Predatory wildlife, like foxes, will always make an attempt to attack and run off with a chicken or two, and unless you protect them effectively, you will definitely end up with less chickens … CAT FENCE-IN™ Really Works! One kind of fencing that you can use is picket fencing. Some people have problems with 5 feet high fences. 1. The easiest way to prevent chickens from attacking a specific plant is to built a fence around it. A simple collar of chicken wire around a small plant will discourage chickens if they have enough to eat. I don’t clip wings but I have had hatchery quality chickens of your breeds. Fencing the chickens out of the garden I use a plastic fence that comes in a roll at TSC or home repair stores. The fence can also help to keep them safe from predators like dogs, cats, or raccoons. They are fairly inexpensive and easy to install. Fences can’t keep opossums, skunks out Impressive climbing abilities means skunks and opossums can go where other creatures might not be able to. However, if you purchase a Silkie it will not pass a two-foot fence. Chickens can usually be kept in a pen with a six foot fence which keeps them from flying over, although you may want to cover the top with bird netting to keep hawks out. -- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), April 22, 2002. Fences are meant to keep things in or out, including dogs. A fox would not leap over a one metre tall fence unless it has something to climb on to first. 12. This is the second time we have done this in 34 years. How To Keep Chickens Out Of The Garden You love your chickens, and you love your garden. Fencing that is 5 foot or taller will keep deer out also. There are many factors to consider when choosing deer proof fencing. Garden fencing must be at least 3 feet tall or the chickens will simply fly over it. You can use small rods or woods that are shaped like long sticks to create a border or outline. Fence height is dependent on the breed that you are trying to keep. 2 wires – Chickens and turkeys (6”, 10”) Your Livestock Fence. While chickens can get by with a flimsy, yet tall, barrier, pigs are going to need extra reinforcements to keep them contained. For as long as I can remember before that, my parents used to keep 40 or so hens at the bottom of our garden. This option is fairly optional. Are you working on an electric fence for your animals? I got started because I liked the idea of producing my own fresh organic eggs, and I thought it would be a fun hobby and an interesting addition to my garden. KEEPING CHICKENS IN THE BACKYARD. How to Landscape Fences to Keep a Dog Out of a Garden. Since 1990 throughout the United States and Canada, CAT FENCE-IN™ is still keeping thousands of cats safe in their yards. do I need to put a net on top to keep them in or is best to clip their wings Poultry fencing isn’t usually covered in books about keeping chickens, ... the fence needs to be buried to stop digging and tall enough to stop jumping / climbing. This will only deter the deer -they can jump anything with ease. CAT FENCE-IN™ stops cats from climbing over fences and up trees. I don’t personally use electric fences, but people I know who have them swear by them. Coyotes have been known to clear six-foot fences. If a wing was clipped a two feet tall fence might work. The wire should be strong enough to stop tearing although with the quality of most chicken netting these days, it’s usually easier to double it up at the level where the predator will try to tear at the wire. Chicken fencing can be fairly straight forward if you are around during the daytime and don’t have a fox problem and would like to keep your chickens in a designated area. It should last longer than we do. It fits on any height wood, vinyl, masonry, wire or chain link fence. Yes! Omlet sell some chicken fencing that is a handy sized poultry netting complete with poles. If you want to know how tall a fence you need for keeping animals in, that depends on the critters. An exterior fence is strongly recommended to keep predators out. And even if it’s too tall to easily jump, coyotes have been known to climb fences seven feet tall (their back legs are quite strong). I have been keeping chickens for over 30 years, since I was a small child. A two foot tall fence (chickenwire) has worked very well for us for the past three years. I have similar sized chickens now. It just needs to keep the chickens where you or can keep an eye on them, at least from time to time, or where your guardian animal can watch over them. If you do let them out during the day to range in your garden you must be absolutely certain that they cannot escape to your neighbour’s veggie garden. Use Electric Fences. Insert a tomato cage over the plant you need to protect or surround the plant with two to four stakes. It’s hard for some people to install net covers or to handle the chickens with limited space for humans to move around. You will need screw in insulators to hold the wire, tape or rope. If you keep chickens or are considering the idea of getting some, you will need a chicken fence to protect them. Clipping a wing can help but it doesn’t always stop them. Despite their ability to fly, poultry – chickens and turkeys, in particular – can be contained with a relatively short fence. But unfortunately, your chickens love your garden too! 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