4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Tombull10]

Hi all,

 

I am looking into getting an Eglu and 3 ex batts. My garden currently has a fence approx 1.8 metres tall all the way around. Is that fence tall enough to contain the birds or will I have to clip their wings??

 

If I have to clip their wings is this difficult to do. It's something that I've looked in to and sure I can manage but don't want to do that unless its neccessary.

 

Thanks for your help,

 

Tom

[BeckyBoo]

Hi Tom, I reckon they could get over the fence I'm afraid, mine can get over the 6ft fence panels with not too much effort if they really want to. Clipping their wings is actually very easy although it's nice to have someone to show you the first time, and two pairs of hands is handy. One holds the chook secure the other stretches out the wing and you will see on the end of the wing the feathers look almost like fingers and underneath are other feathers (someone will tell you what they're properly called) and you just cut the ones underneath up to the level of the "finger feathers". God, I'm rubbish at describing it, put the kettle on and I'll be round!

 

Even then they can still sometimes get a fair flap on and clear a fair height, and only do one wing, it's supposed to put them off balance!

 

BeckyBoo

[Gamebird]

Hi and welcome to the forum

 

It all depends on how flighty your chickens are. There are some chickens who can easily fly much higher than 2metres and others who won't bother.

 

More importantly 2 metres is not high enough to keep a fox out.

 

Wing clipping is straight forward but easier with two people - one holding and the other clipping. I find the best time to do this is after they have gone to bed and are sleepy and quiet.

 

Ttry this link for more information.

 

Hope this helps.

[Tombull10]

Thanks for the advice. It sounds as though I'll have to clip their wings then. I'm not to worried about Mr Fox as I've never seen a fox around here and they will only free range when I'm around but I am worried about them dissapearing over the fence and never coming home!! I don't suppose there is anyone in the Manchester area who would be happy to give me a wing clipping lesson when I finally get my poor little ex batts?

 

Cheers guys

[AbigailGrace]

We clipped our girls wings yesterday..

 

This video is very good..

 

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kLaGpczNhEI

 

Also how to keep you hen to lay still.. I think that was preety cleaver and i may have a go myself..

 

Hope that helps..

 

Abigail.

[Snowy]

To be honest, even though they could clear the fence, they are unlikely to, unless they can see food on the other side Mine will attempt the 6' netting into the veg patch as they can see whats there. They've never attempted the garden fence.

[poachedegg]

Mine have never attempted to jump or fly higher than a bench! 3 have their wings clipped; 2 don't.

[bellekatz]

Thanks for the advice. It sounds as though I'll have to clip their wings then. I'm not to worried about Mr Fox as I've never seen a fox around here and they will only free range when I'm around but I am worried about them dissapearing over the fence and never coming home!! I don't suppose there is anyone in the Manchester area who would be happy to give me a wing clipping lesson when I finally get my poor little ex batts?

 

Cheers guys

 

Where in manchester are you?

[abwsco]

None of my ex batts have ever tried to fly They do jump up for food though -lol

[Spike-J]

I've a similar height of fence and 2 isa browns. They have never attemped fence either- don't know if I've just been lucky. I was reluctant to clip wings as a few cats round here and I thought it may give the girls an advantage to be able to get off the ground a bit...

(may not make a lot of difference- the girls seem well able to stand up for themselves!)

[bokbok]

Sorry to hijack the thread but Spike-J I think you PMed me by mistake , as you asked me for coffee.....you live in NI and I'm in UK nice offer and all but it's a bit far away

[Tombull10]

Hi bellekatz,

 

I'm in Wythenshawe. U?

[bellekatz]

I am in Stretford/Chorlton and would be happy to show you on one of my girls

[Hen Watch]

Tom, my 4 hybrids have never cleared 6 foot but I think a lot depends on their breed and their age.

 

My lot would clear 4 foot when they were only 4 months old, but now at 2 years old they just can't be bothered and stay inside their 4ft fencing.

 

I did decide to clip one wing for my lot. It is really easy and I personally found this picture quite helpful - also the Omlet guide I have says "a good guide is to cut the first 6-7 feathers back as far as the tips of the next line of feathers".

 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-wingclipping.html

 

They are more likely to use objects as launch pads to go up and over, so it's worth checking the area they will be in for any conveniently placed objects too near the fence they can use to hop over, eg. compost bin etc.

[Tombull10]

Thanks bellekatz. I'll get in touch when i finally get my girls if thats ok. Appreciate the offer.

[..lay a little egg for me]

Mine have never attempted to jump or fly higher than a bench! 3 have their wings clipped; 2 don't.

Same here.