Single hen

[prudance]

Just a quickie:

 

How often do we need to clip wings? Thanks!

[Larkspurs]

Usually once per full moult. If the primaries grow back after a moult, clip them. Some birds partially moult and their primaries can stay in place a while so if they are already cut they won't need it again.

 

We got ours at POL and clipped them then. After moult and when they have grown something to cut we're doing them then. You don't need to cut more often than that really. The clipping just makes them feel off balance when trying to break the 14 second flight record!

[cordelia]

I havent clipped the wings on mine at all...I'd wait and see if they do escape first...

 

I do realise how daft that sounds LOL

[Hen Watch]

I havent clipped the wings on mine at all...I'd wait and see if they do escape first...

 

I do realise how daft that sounds LOL

 

Not daft at all. You can't really tell my lot have 1 clipped wing until they sun bathe and if they extend the one clipped wing they look pretty silly. So if they are not escape artists then there's no need. Here's my clipped wing sunbathing pic.

 

[prudance]

Thanks. They were all clipped when the Omlet man delivered them. Everything fine for 6 weeks until the day before our first chook layed, she escaped - but we still can't figure out how. She must have either tunnelled under the fence and then filled in the evidence behind her or she cleared a five foot hedge!

 

She escaped twice but touch wood hasn't done so again since laying. Only been laying two weeks though... Maybe it was some weird feeling she was getting pre-egg and she just didn't know what to do with herself and discovered super chicken powers!

[Headchicken]

I probably could have cleared the hedge when I was in labor

[The Dogmother]

I always recommend trimming and checking them regularly when the girls are new, especially before they start to lay and are more inclined to wander. You should be OK after 6 months or so when they realise where home is.