noyan Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Me again, hoping to let the girls loose in the garden next week. Will have had them 16 days by them. one did escape Sunday but got her back easily, calmly walked up to her and picked her up. (Probably a fluke) Garden has 5foot high conifer hedge all one side and most of other, with five foot wooden fencing on the rest. It's a big garden approx 100foot by 30 foot with some mature bushes. Any opinions on whether to clip wings would be appreciated, would prefer not to but that's me wimping out I think. We do have a few cats in the neighbourhood one possibly a stray, will they still be able to get away if cats take a fancy to them? Wouldn't want any cat as trophies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tania Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 we have only just got our chickens so don't take me as an expert, far from it, but having asked the same question of an expert the answer I got, & it makes sense, is that if you've lots of space (we have), there's a chance of foxes (there is!) & your neighbours are far away then don't clip. That way if trouble does come their way then they have more of a chance of getting out of harms way. I have been told that chikens don't really go about trying to fly away so you culd leave the wings unclipped. I'm sure that you'll get lots better advice though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noyan Posted March 3, 2009 Author Share Posted March 3, 2009 thanks for that . have never seen any foxes but my neigbour says he's seen one when he came home from the pub we do have a school field at the bottom of the garden though so could have some living near Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I havent clipped, and they havent flown...and they free range every day..one side of our garden only has a five foot fence...I have to say though, the little monkey's dug a hole under one fence, and went under.....in fact they have done that twice LOL... (if you do clip..just do one side but I wouldn't bother to be honest....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Sometimes I do...sometimes I don't. Not very helpful I know. I tend to do it if they are persistent escapers, but not if the only get out occasionally. The one thing I would say against wing clipping is that it reduces their ability to get away from an approaching predator. Depends on your situation though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 That's helpful to me too - I've got one girl who is definitely more adventurous and wondered if it might be safer if I clipped her, but perhaps on balance not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 we clipped 2 of our girls' wings (1 wing on each girl obviously ) and it didn't make any difference so we don't bother now. The big girls don't tend to try and fly anyway, the bantams do but only horizontally. They can fly about 2 foot off the ground but cover half the length of the garden in one go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noyan Posted March 3, 2009 Author Share Posted March 3, 2009 looks like a wait and see what happens when I let them out. I know it is not supposed to hurt them. but it can't do a lot for their self esteem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 looks like a wait and see what happens when I let them out. I know it is not supposed to hurt them. but it can't do a lot for their self esteem It doesn't hurt them at all, just like having your hair cut but if you have a bad hair cut, you do feel rubbish don't you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewhitehouse Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I've clipped but find the Barnevelder can hop onto the top of a 6' trellis anyway The bantams squeeze under the gate then that drives the bigger girls mad so they hop over the gate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Eglutines wait and see advice was good.. also I must say thewhitehouse lady's avatar dog is gorgeous.....I love the Smooth Collie, several years ago my friends family had a blue merle border collie, the nicest dog I've ever met.... lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Having browsed the forum on a daily basis for many months now my impression is that some peoples' chooks are persistent escapees and fly, jump, hop out of any containment, and wing clipping does help. Other people's girls (mine included) don't appear to know what their wings are for and so there is no need to clip. So waiting and seeing is best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thewhitehouse Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Thank you Cordelia for the compliments about my puppy avatar. We're off to Crufts on Saturday (not showing this year) to do our bit at Discover Dogs. If anyone out there's visiting Crufts on Saturday - do come and say hello - we'll be on the Smooth Collie stand at Discover Dogs (Hall 4). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 None of mine are clipped. My black rocks, which ive had a year have never tried but 1 of my columbine's has got next door but im not sure wheather it jumped of went through a small gap which is now sealed. I have 6ft fencing around there run and netting securing the sky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
