Re: Height Restrictions

"Jill" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message news:<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>...
> "Ute Bohnsack" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Hi,
> > wing clipping is of course always an option (one-side only!) but there
> > seem to be major differences between breeds. Orpington's for example are
> > SAID to be so docile and lazy that they can be kept behind a 5ft fence.
> again
> it depends
> Ours can happily get up on top of a 6 ft fence
> but I know some exhibition stock folk with them behind a 3ft !!!!
> 
> > Others are much more agile and will need higher fences.
> > I guess, Jill has more experience on this front, given that she keeps
> > many different breeds.
> as ours are all prodictive strains I think there is defnately a chance ours
> will be able to do more
> Talking to others it seems the more utility types tend to be more active -
> on the other hand there are some of the fancy bantams that are decidedly
> flighty which is different altogether - vertical take off if you look
> sideways at them:~)))
> 

The run I built for mine has wire across the top as well as the sides
and bottom. Part of the run is under a lovely huge lilac tree. The
first day the birds were in there, they thought the tree would make a
great roost. One by one they managed a near vertical take off and were
quite shocked to be stopped at the three foot mark by the chicken
wire. The wire was supposed to keep predators out, but it's good at
keeping the hens in as well. They've also managed to jump onto the
range a few times without a run up. (self cooking chickens anyone? I
keep showing them the book 'hens in the garden, eggs in the kitchen'
but they haven't got the message yet.) As well as jumping onto the
back of the sofa at roosting time. However their landings on slippy
laminated floors are quite amusing. Chickens are quite good at
expressing surprise and shock as they slide into the furniture. Our
garden fence is only 5 foot so we don't let them range on their own
too much as I've seen them reach that height off the raised patio when
spooked by a cat. The cat was equally spooked as they flew at him
rather than away, and he hasn't been back since.