Howdy Folks,

I'm a regular over on the Dog Forum and the OH and I are considering adding some Hens to our happy family. (Don't worry, my pup is V placid, and doesn't use the back garden anyway in case of needing to separate them!)

I'm hoping to recycle some of my old Rabbit hutch and run, it's a molded plastic hutch and plastic covered metal run sections that can be cable tied together to the required size. I understand that a Hen will quickly demolish any greenery so I was looking to section off my borders with the "run" sections allowing them to be otherwise free-range during the day.

Hence the question...how high can a Hen jump?

Any other friendly advice is also greatfully recieved.

hi hun, you will love keeping hens there fab. ours can jump pretty high my pen is just over 6 foot high and they cant escape that they tend to jump around 3/4 foot at least ours do. ours have the run of the garden through the day then pened in by night. good luck oh and yes they will demolish your garden lol

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http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/michellebendle0711

Ah thanks Shells.

I have friends that have/have kept Hens and they say if you pen them off on your patio they will clear all the weeds that grow up between the slabs!

Because of our diet, we get through tons of eggs, so it was a slightly selfish decission (though how many aren't, really?). We did weigh up that young layers would be better for our needs, but I think I've settle on committing to more ex-bats than fewer young layers. I'm gonna talk it over with my Mom tomorrow...

I don't know if every area is the same, but we have two big centres very locally that are dedicated to rehoming ex-bats (says a lot for the South West, huh!? )

depends what breed they are?

i have rhode island reds and they can get over a 6 foot fence quite easy
also the hen are normaly happy just to scratch around but if you have cockerel he will be the one to get out and the hens will follow him

small world im in somerset aswell if you need to no anything else will help where i can

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Hey Bigdaddy, I'm glad to hear from you; I gather from my forum research that you are the man to speak to!

Jeeze, 6ft huh!! In terms of breed, ideally I'd be lookng to take on heavy layers to suit our diets, but as a failed vegetarian it's more improtant to me to give some ex-bats a second chance! I'm in a village just outside Weston-super-Mare, so i'm looking at both the RSPCA in Brent Knoll and the local British Hen Welfare Trust in Gordano. Are you near by?