Straying hens

What type of fencing do you have around your garden and how high is it?

We lost one of our girls for 3 days, she jumped/flew over a 6' fence.  They now all have 1 clipped wing.

Make sure you only clip 1 wing, there are some helpful videos on the internet.  You need to fence them in or they will wonder off on foot.

You could always add a 1 or 2 foot trellis to the top of the fence.

HI madrat

The fencing varies from about 5 feet in places to no fencing at all where the property is elevated above road level.  I think I will clip their wings and see if that helps.

Mike

It won't.

Do they have food in an attached run or under cover in the garden available ALL the times?  If so they won't stray far from that unless there's plentiful food in your neighbours vegetable plot. 

You've already identified the one thing which will attract them back t their house & run.  Look no further and don't bother with wing clipping which won't be effective as they don't need to fly and clipping doesn't actually stop them flying short hops onto a fence.

A net is better than a solid fence as they can't land on that.

In order for them to identify their ranging area there must be some natural boundaries defined even if they can get over them.

Before they become free spirits you need to imprint on them where home is otherwise they'll define it for themselves and it may now be too late to restrict their wanderings.  They will range over an area in which they can find food and feel secure.

HF
HF