One of the most common questions we get, both from customers and from people who just find us online, is how to build a fence that actually keeps chickens where they belong. It sounds simple until you’ve had a hawk take one of your hens or watched your whole flock figure out they can fly over a four foot fence.
We put this together based on our experience not only installing fences, but also raising chickens and protecting them from bobcats to birds of prey. Here’s what actually works.
Clip the Wings First
Before you even think about fence height, deal with the wings. Chickens can fly a lot higher than most people expect, and a determined hen will find her way over just about anything if her flight feathers are intact.
Clipping is simple and it does not hurt the bird. The best time to do it is at night, when chickens are calm and easy to handle. We’d recommend watching a video or looking at a diagram first so you know exactly which feathers to trim.
Build the Fence at Least 6 Feet Tall
With wings clipped, a 6 foot fence is generally enough to keep chickens contained. It won’t stop a bird that’s still capable of flight, so the two steps work together. Fence height alone isn’t the fix, and neither is clipping alone. You need both.
Bury the Wire
Predators don’t always come from above. Raccoons, coyotes, and other diggers will try to get underneath a fence line if they smell food or a flock inside. Burying the wire a few inches into the ground, or digging a trench 6 to 12 inches deep in areas with heavy predator pressure, makes it a lot harder for something to burrow its way in.
Consider a Net Over the Top
If you’re in an area with a lot of aerial predators like hawks or crows, a net over the run adds another layer of protection. It’s not always necessary. It depends on how exposed your property is and what’s already been a problem in your area.
A Rooster Can Actually Help
It sounds old-fashioned, but a rooster does real work protecting the flock. Hens tend to keep their heads down, focused on foraging. Roosters are more likely to stay alert and watch for movement overhead, which can be the difference between a close call and a loss.
An Automatic Door Is Worth It in High Predator Areas
For anyone dealing with a lot of predator pressure, an automatic coop door that shuts at a set time each evening takes the guesswork out of it. Chickens are creatures of habit. They’ll head in around the same time every night, so a timed door closes the gap before nocturnal predators show up.
A Guard Dog Changes Everything
This part isn’t fencing advice exactly, but it’s worth saying. A dog that’s regularly outside can be one of the most effective deterrents against bobcats, coyotes, and other ground predators. The difference between having one and not having one can be the difference between losing chickens regularly and losing none at all.
What This Looks Like in Practice
None of this has to be fancy. A simple treated wood post fence with wire set a little into the ground, at 6 feet tall, combined with clipped wings, a dog, and a rooster or two, can go a long way. The goal isn’t a complicated setup. It’s a few basic layers working together consistently.
Thinking About Upgrading Your Chicken Run Fence?
If your current fence isn’t cutting it, whether chickens are getting out or predators are getting in, it’s usually a combination of height, burial depth, and gaps that need addressing. We build fences across the Portland Metro, Vancouver WA, Tacoma, and Tumwater areas and can help you figure out what your setup actually needs.
Get a free estimate to talk through your yard and what it would take to keep your flock safe.