While chickens can’t fly like other birds, they can get to some pretty amazing heights if they want to. The most common height of chicken wire you can purchase is around 4 feet tall. So this brings us to our question, can chickens fly over a 4-foot fence?
In total, chickens can fly over a 4-foot fence. On average, a chicken can fly up to a height of 10 feet (3 meters). Although chickens can maintain this height for only a short time, it’s plenty of time to fly over the 4-foot fence.
In this article we’ll go through the 4-foot fencing, why chickens tend to fly over their fencing, and what you can do about it!
Can Chickens Get Out of a Four-Foot Fence?
Yes, chickens can easily fly over a four-foot fence. Although chickens can maintain this height for only a short time, it’s plenty of time to fly over the 4-foot fence. I have seen my free-range chickens fly up into a tree to roost that’s well over 8 feet off the ground. While many people like to joke that chickens can’t fly, they are actually excellent at flying a short distance to either roost or escape their prey, albeit they aren’t the fastest flyers.
Will 5 or 6 Foot Fencing keep Chickens In?
In total 5 or 6-foot fencing alone will not keep chickens in indefinitely. The highest chicken wire in production is 6 feet (72 inches). While the chicken wire is great at keeping chickens from getting through, it just doesn’t meet the height requirements. Most of the time, I tend to bury at least a foot and a half of the wire to prevent predators from digging in, so I end up with even less height. You must pair chicken wire with something else such as a roof or netting to keep chickens in indefinitely.
Why do Chickens Escape Their Pen?
- Lack of Space – Chickens need sufficient space to roam and explore. If their pen is too small, they may try to escape to find more room to move around. It’s recommended that chickens have at minimum 2-3 square feet of space each.
- Boredom – “The grass is always greener”. Chickens are intelligent and active animals that need stimulation to stay happy and healthy. If they are bored, they may try to escape their pen to find something more interesting to do. A great way to keep them entertained is to provide treats here and there for them, check out my article on the top ten treats for chickens!
- Food and Water – Chickens need access to fresh water and food. If their water or food is running low or inadequate, they may try to escape to find better sources of sustenance.
- Predators – Chickens will flee most predators by running (until that’s not cutting it) and then will take to the air to get away from predators. If you have lots of predators around, be sure to keep a very close eye on your chickens.
- Socialization – Chickens are social animals and enjoy being around other chickens. Chickens will escape their pen to join other chickens.
How to Keep Chickens From Flying Over the Fence
- Build a Roof – This is the most obvious answer but can be pretty expensive. Roofing is the most successful way of keeping your chickens from flying the coop. Giving chickens a good roof would have to be my recommendation. I encourage you to read my article on Why Chickens Need a Roof. The article goes into detail on the many advantages of chickens having a roof.
- Clip their Wings – Clipping a chicken’s primary wings can unbalance them and make it much harder for them to fly. This technique is only temporary, and the feathers will eventually grow back, so it must be repeated periodically.
- Safety – By keeping your chickens safe from predators, they are far less likely to be startled over the fence. If you feel like your chickens could use a bit more protection, I encourage you to check out my 25 tips on keeping your chickens safe.
- Ample Space and Company – Make sure your chickens have ample space as mentioned (2-3 square feet each) and make sure they are in the company of other chickens.
- Use Netting – Some people use netting over their fencing to prevent chickens from getting out. This method can be cost-effective versus putting up an entire roof. Netting is an adequate way to keep your chickens in their pen if you’re on a budget.
- Increase the height of the fence – What size fence will keep chickens in? In total, a 12-foot wall is necessary to keep chickens in indefinitely. However, I think you’ll find that putting a roof up would most likely be cheaper than increasing the height of your pen.
This article was originally published on farmapt.com. If it is now published on any other site, it was done without permission from the copyright owner.
Conclusion
A 4-foot fence just isn’t going to keep your chickens in long. With an average maximum flight height of 10 feet, your chicken wire doesn’t stand a chance, even with 6-foot fencing. My recommendation has always been to build a sturdy roof for your chickens if you have the budget for it, as it has so many other uses. If you don’t, netting is probably the best alternative. If you’d rather attempt to prevent the chickens from escaping based on their behavior, try to give your chickens a welcome environment including safety from predators, ample space, company, fresh food and water, and entertainment.