I have a fenced off section of the yard that would be perfect for a chicken yard. But the fence around it is just a normal picket fence type of fence, maybe 4.5 feet tall. Are there any types of chickens that do not fly so wouldn't be able to get over the fence and out of their yard?
Thanks,
Gwen
Chickens that don't fly
A lot of the heavy dual purpose do not fly once they are fully grown. But there are exceptions--my Delaware has figured out how to fly from object to object and surmount my fence which is about 4.5 ft. But she is the only one of 7 that does it. When the are younger they are lighter and fly a bit better--but I don't think many would fly out of your yard even then.
go with a heavy breed. i just moved my Plymout Barred Rocks, about four months of age, into a pen with four foot chain link. very few of them have flown out, just because they are still large framed and light weight... not for long LOL
my Buckeyes that are true to type can't fly up to roost higher than 3 feet!
somepoel clip wings. but that leaves them open to predators more...
My Black Australorps used to get out of the chicken coop by scratching so much along the fence that they were able to get out under the fence! They have never flown. In fact, even the hatchlings from this year don't fly, even when they are young. I can't say about any other breed. They are able to roost about 4.5 ft off the floor in the henhouse, but may be getting up there using the nesting boxes which are in front of the roosts. The hatchlings won't even get up on the roosts in the temporary henhouse and they are only about 1.5 ft off the ground ranging up to about 3 ft. Can't say that about the sex-links, tho.
GG