SeramaSilly Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 Does anyone else have trouble with their chickens escaping? My araucana cross - Maude - has been out for another jaunt today and I am thoroughly stressed! We have seven foot fences all round but she must be getting a foothold on the climbing plants and leaping over! The last time - that I know of - was about three weeks ago and that was ok (sort of) because she went in my neighbours garden who I am very friendly with. Today I finally found her in a empty house's garden over my back fence and I don't know anybody over there! She is confined to barracks at the moment but what can I do - I have clipped her wing already again! My neighbour thought we ought to get some of that flexible plastic trellis and bend the top over so that when she flies up she just hits her head on that and can't get over. Do you think that would work? I'm thinking I am going to have to buy an identity tag for her leg with our address and phone number on!! Sophie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 I know alot of people would say not to but i clipped BOTH wings on my speckeldy and bluebell who liked to "fly" on top of my hedge and it has grounded them both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeramaSilly Posted August 12, 2006 Author Share Posted August 12, 2006 Thanks Jess I'll try that then - I've heard not to as well - but if it has worked for you that proves it must work. Sophie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 We had to clip Hillary's wings after she managed to fly onto the top of a 7 foot hedge, and sat eyeing up the grass next door. Clipping one wing has been enough to knock her balance, and is a pretty easy thing to do, if you follow the Omlet instructions, and you have 2 pairs of hands! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeramaSilly Posted August 12, 2006 Author Share Posted August 12, 2006 Hi Chookiehen - yes her wing was already clipped when we got her and I clipped it further the first time she got out - but it doesn't seem to stop her!! She is an araucana cross but they didn't know what the cross was at the DFT - I reckon she's half racing-pigeon!! Sophie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 13, 2006 Share Posted August 13, 2006 Have you actually seen her fly? Su found a way under the fence. We kept clipping her wing and wondering why it didn't work and she kept appearing in the vegetable patch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 13, 2006 Share Posted August 13, 2006 I think the clipping of one wing unbalances them. If you clip both wings it must limit the amount of "lift" they can muster, even if it is equal on both sides. I have been surprised at how high they can jump when startled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 13, 2006 Share Posted August 13, 2006 She is an araucana cross but they didn't know what the cross was at the DFT - I reckon she's half racing-pigeon!! Sophie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted August 13, 2006 Share Posted August 13, 2006 You can get plastic spikey stuff to stop cats from getting into your garden, maybe try that. I think Coopers of Stortford sell it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted August 13, 2006 Share Posted August 13, 2006 We trained our chooks to come to us: maybe you could try this and then if she does go further astray you can just call her back! We trained them by always making a particular sound when giving them food. Because we wanted a sound that other people (holiday sitters) could make, and not just us, we bought a little shaker-rattle thing. It happens to be egg-shaped(!) but we found it in a musical instrument shop. We just shook it before giving them treats, every time at first. We actually rarely use it now, but even so if we do shake it they just come running whatever they're doing - it's so ingrained they don't seem to be able to resist it! They get really excited! Whenever we do use it we make sure to always reward them. Its great, and really reassuring for sitters who are worried about getting them back in the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeramaSilly Posted August 14, 2006 Author Share Posted August 14, 2006 Thanks everyone, Well we've clipped her other wing and put some trellis between a possible escape route between the fence and wall and now we are just keeping our fingers crossed. When I give them any treats I always say 'Come on Chickees!' in a high voice and they all come running which I did on Saturday to try and flush her out but with no success - she was just being very naughty!!! Sophie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 My araucana cross has a wingspan like a condor and can easily take flight with a clipped wing. Luckily her hairdo restricts her sight, so she doesn't fly often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 my araucana also flies pretty well and likes to fly from my wrist. Somewhere in that breed is a bird of prey I swear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 It must be the primitive chook in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocchick Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 Luckily her hairdo restricts her sight, so she doesn't fly often. Think hairdo may be relatively recent addition to primeval chicken... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Cooks Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 I agree it's an Araucana thing.....Ha'penny my Arauncana has been airborne, if not exactly flying! I was really interested to read this post and will be keeping an eye on her. I'm curious though - you said her hairstyle restricts her view, but Ha'Penny's is sort of slicked back, Elvis style. Does yours go forward? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 Dolly is a Polish/Araucana cross, so she has a big, Liberace style hairdo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Starlet was trying to get out this morning. The first time she jumped on the gate to their run. We pushed her off just in time. The second time she jumped on top of the gate and off the other side into our garden. The third time she tried to jump on top of the wooden run. But as there is chicken wire along the top of it she flew into that instead and caught her head on the edge of the wire. Silly thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Cooks Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Claret, I absolutely LOVE your Dolly!! She is GORGEOUS! I think you need to breed more like her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Claret, I absolutely LOVE your Dolly!! She is GORGEOUS! I think you need to breed more like her! I don't think Claret breeds chickens...Not yet anyway!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Thanks noeglu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Cooks Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 What I meant is, I think you should start! She's too fab not to share! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Dolly is lovely I also like the three bums in the background Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 17, 2006 Share Posted August 17, 2006 She is a lovely hen, if slightly dotty I would love to breed chickies, but I don't really have the room and would hate to be over-run with unwanted chooks I am sure that if you advertised on the P P and pekinbantams.com forums, you might come across another cross like her Miss Cooks. I know that Tamsin, who is on this forum has Polands, perhaps she would cross with an Araucana hen for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
