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

[Chickendoodle]

Help!

 

Our original girls have never made much effort to fly and we smugly thought that was because we had clipped their wings.

 

Our new girls, however, will not stay behind the Omlet netting. 2 of them in particular can take off vertically (like Harrier Jump Jets) from just behind the netting and clear it.

 

We have clipped one wing as recommended and checked them last night and took off a little bit more. This morning they took one disdainful look at us and cleared the netting as usual.

 

Is it any good clipping both wings or should we just feed them lots so that they get fat and plummet rather than fly!!!!!!

[atsw]

Is it any good clipping both wings or should we just feed them lots so that they get fat and plummet rather than fly!!!!!!

Clipping both wings won't help, in fact it could just make things easier for them! The idea behind doing just one wing is that it unbalances them. If you do both wings you restore the balance, they just need to flap harder in order to fly! More food is a much better approach . I've always found that once they become more mature and start laying regularly they seem to forget about flying.

 

Andrew

[Redwing]

ball and chain?

 

If your netting is always in one place you could increase the height with some bamboo canes and fruit netting, make this quite loose so it sags or leans inwards (think prison security fencing) and that might discourage them

 

Alternatively put a net over the top of the whole lot if the area is small enough

[Egluntyne]

Are they taking off from the top of the Eglu? In which case, I'd move the netting out a little further so that they can't launch themselves over the top.

[Chickendoodle]

They can take off from the Eglu, the Cube or vertically from the ground! I blame the Red Arrows - there is an annual airshow in Eastbourne which was a couple of weeks ago and the Red Arrows fly directly (very low ) over our garden when they are preparing for their formations. The chickens were fascinated - there was a point when all 7 of them were looking up into the sky in the same direction. I think it gave them ideas for a formation chicken flying team.

 

It looks as though there is no real solution other than to hope they grow out of it. I could always knit them little jackets to keep their wings pinned to their bodies

 

Thanks for the advice everyone.

[atsw]

I think it gave them ideas for a formation chicken flying team.

 

I could always knit them little jackets to keep their wings pinned to their bodies

[Newmarcell]

Hi chickendoodle,

 

We found that with all of our new hens, they were very agile and could fly high when POL. Once they started laying however, they seemed to loose their agility and could no longer fly up to the places they previously could.

 

Have your new hens started laying yet? Also, which breeds are they?

 

Newmarcell

 

[abwsco]

My Vorwerk clears 8 ft easily from a standing start although she hasn't done it for a while now. Famous last words I bet-lol

 

I'm ROFCWL at them getting their inspiration from the Red Arrows as we get them flying low over here as well but mine usually go into panic mode.

[sparkysmum]

Hi chickendoodle, I'm glad I'm not alone I can't believe it My lavender araucana flies into the trees to roost and I'm talking 15 feet into the trees. Not funny I've been thinking about wing clipping but the vets don't like it. She has a long time to go before she starts laying - I just hope she hasn't flown away by then My salmon fav has similar desires but thankfully can't quite manage heights. If only I'd known I hope yours settle down soon. Ax

[Chickendoodle]

Hi chickendoodle,

 

We found that with all of our new hens, they were very agile and could fly high when POL. Once they started laying however, they seemed to loose their agility and could no longer fly up to the places they previously could.

 

Have your new hens started laying yet? Also, which breeds are they?

 

Newmarcell

 

GNR

 

They have been laying for around a month now - all hybrids, Ranger, Amber & Black Rock. The Amber and Ranger are the best flyers and the cheekiest.

 

They are still a little bit smaller than the older girls so I will just have to hope that once they are a pound or two fatter they won't have so much lift!

[Chickendoodle]

Hey ho, extended the fence by 3 foot with poles and netting.

 

This morning Freda took one look at it, took off and cleared it by a foot