tom123 Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 (edited) Now most of you know that I am getting 3 new hens in feb and I would LOVE a blue egg layer BUT Some places I have read they can fly like a pigeon is that with their wings clipped? and some places I have read that they hardly fly at all They would have a run with 4ft high fencing and no roof and I am worried that they will get over this while I am at school or on holiday Help? Can everyone with a cream legbar or other egg layer please tell they're HONEST opinion!!! Thanks very much Tom Edited January 31, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I have a Columbine and she was a bit flighty to begin with but she's pretty settled now. I did clip her wings to start with but I haven't re-clipped them since she moulted as she's shown no signs of flight. She lays blue/green eggs ( sort of duck egg blue). She has quite a lot of attitude and is quite bossy but is very protective of the two bantams, a bit mother henish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I have a cream legbar, and she thinks she is an eagle! She takes off like a rocket and is very nervy and easily spooked. I haven't clipped her wing yet, but I am going to have to if I ever want to let her out of the run. It just feels so wrong, and I really don't want to do it She is my favourite chook though () She has loads of character, and I love her to bits. She is at the bottom of the pecking order and has been very slow to come in to lay. So far she has just laid one teeny weeny softie, but I am hopeful she will start laying in earnest very soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 Ok cool So do you guys think I would be OK if I clipped her wings? apparently other, calmer breeds calm them down??? Thanks again Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I'm sorry to say this Tom, as I know you are very keen to have one, but my little Ada puts the wind up the other 3 and sets them all off flying round the run when she is startled! I hope that clipping a wing would help stop her taking off, but she is by nature a very nervy chookie, and my other 3 are very placid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie the Moocher Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 My CL never leaves the ground. None of mine are bothered come to think of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 This is the thing One of you says that they do and one says they don't I'm stuuuucccckkkk!!!! Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie the Moocher Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Maybe mine are lazy. Or too well fed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 It is the luck of the draw tbh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted January 30, 2009 Author Share Posted January 30, 2009 Shame really but the only way I could think about doing it was if I said to the lady when I buy the hens that if I have to can I bring her back and swap her Ill think about it but I think, like egluntine said, I might get the right side of the draw and get to keep her or I might not! Thanks Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 As I said in you're other thread, I've had 2 CLs, one at the moment........and neither of them has been nervy or flown anywhere. They have been home-hatched and had a lot of handling so I think that maybe makes a difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 That must be right feemcg. Ada was already 18 weeks old when I got her, and I have never been able to handle her except when she has gone to roost, because when she is awake she runs a mile if you so much as look at her. I'm sure regular handling from being hatched would make a big difference. I hope you can get a placid one Tom, because they are the most endearing and characterful little chookies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I have 2 Araucanas (it is Araucana breeding that gives the CL their egg colour). They are the most flighty (as in anxious) of all my girls, but I've never seen them fly. I think, as others have said, that it's the individual rather than the breed that is the problem. Good luck with whatever you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I have a Cream Legbar, we got her (along with a Welsummer) when she was 11 weeks old. She had no fear, was happy to be picked up, was an escape artist (because she was so tiny), and is a wonderful character. I haven't needed to clip her wing though. Even if you did need to, it's not a big deal - but remember to clip only one! I brought home a White Ranger (and an Amber Star) on Monday; let them out of the Eglu run to free range for the first time yesterday and had to go and clip her wing immediately as she started flying around the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I have had a Skyline (which I think is exactly the same as a Columbine) and a Sussex Reverse (which I think is exactly the same as a Daisybelle) for a week now and its the SR that is the more nervous of the two, and the most flightly. They are both 16 weeks old, but the SL is far less mature than the SR, having no comb to speak of at all at the moment. My older chooks have met them face to face very briefly, and again it was the SR that was most spooked by the experience..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted January 31, 2009 Author Share Posted January 31, 2009 I think maybe I give up on the blue eggs as I can't keep swapping them and Its not worth the hassle so my next question is... Definitely going get a Cuckoo Maran or Speckledy But would love white eggs Which breeds? Can't be too flighty so obviously not a white star Thanks again Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 I saw this a bit late, but - I have a Gold Legbar and a Frisian who both lay white eggs. They used to jump over their electric fence from time to time, but haven't done it for a long time. I think that maybe once they start laying eggs and settle down a bit the novelty of jumping/flying wears off. I also got an Andalucian last year - she tried to roost in trees several times and wing clipping didn't help. But she too appears to have settled down. The only thing is, she has just started laying and although she is supposed to lay white eggs, and has white ear lobes, the eggs aren't white (more of a pale creamy brown). Wing clipping doesn't seem to make any difference at all. If they are determined to get off the ground they will. And even though they have stopped jumping out I see them on the roof of the Cube now and again. I always make sure it is well away from the fence. But my original 2 hens from Omlet have never tried jumping out - maybe hybrids are less likely to? Milly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chillicat Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 What about a Skyline? Apparently there is a 75% or 80% chance (depending on what you read) that they will lay a blue egg........if it isn't blue it will be khaki or white. Perfect solution for me as I want blue, dark brown and white egg layers. I've ordered a Skyline, a White (Star, I think but could be a White something else ) and a Speckeldy. I am also thinking of getting a Cream Legbar to make sure that I do get a blue one. I definitely want blue eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 my cream legbar, flies down the garden at normal height....when shes worried about a noise...we have a 5ft fence on one side and 6ft on the other...she's never flown upwards..even when the dog has cheekily chased her... hope you're not too put off.... best of luck P.S when i said she flies at normal height, I mean at ground level, not above so she doenst so much as fly, as flap her wings and run fast !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 I'm sorry to say this Tom, as I know you are very keen to have one, but my little Ada puts the wind up the other 3 and sets them all off flying round the run when she is startled!I hope that clipping a wing would help stop her taking off, but she is by nature a very nervy chookie, and my other 3 are very placid. I have the same problem from my Cream Legbar and my 2 Leghorns. They are much lighter in build than the others so think that must also have something to do with it too. I don't know if anyone has hatched any themselves and handled them a lot when they were young can add a comment as to if this made a difference. As that might be another answer to the problem? Anyone with this experience??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccroft Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 I too really wanted hens that layed white and blue eggs but decided that it was too much of a risk. It was suggested that I would be better to either buy chicks or hatch my own and then they wouldn't be as flighty because they would have been handles whilst young. I decided to to take the above advice, thought it would also be great for the children. So I won't mind when one of my hens go broody now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minnie the Moocher Posted February 2, 2009 Share Posted February 2, 2009 I also should have mentioned that my CL lays white eggs - when she can be bothered! Thank goodness my brown egg layers are reliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
