Chicken bald back

[Raina]

Hi all,

 

I would love my Girls to Free range once we get the fencing up but they can still fly pretty good with their wings clipped (Only on one side)

 

So i was wondering,When letting them FR is there any way i could sew some weights onto a poultry saddle to weigh them down and stop them from flying/jumping round the neighbours garden or would you say it's cruel?

[Egluntyne]

I'd say it isn't a good idea. You would be lessening their chances of escaping from predators if the were weighed down.

[chelsea]

How high is the fencing Raina?

 

I think if it was me I would address the fencing rather than restricting the chickens with a saddle is there any way you could put anything on top of the fencing like a piece of trellis or maybe a climbing plant to discourage them from flying up there?

[Raina]

The fencing they managed to jump over before was 6ft (I was really glad we had a good neighbour who found it funny when they would rade his flower beds )

 

The fencing at this house is 6ft and i'm not sure how high the fencing will be that they will put between the back & front garden (99% of the fencing needs replacing too )

 

 

I wasn't thinking of putting it on them all the time just when i'm out the back with them (Maybe any where from 30 mins - 2 hours)

[emchook]

Hey Raina

You might be onto something there.. not necessarily for stopping the chickens jumping the fence...but maybe you could use it to bulk up chickens muscles for dinner purposes !

 

Sorry ..couldn't resist .. I have a fantastic picture in my head of this ..although RSPCA may have something to say about it

 

[Lewis]

Seems like a bad idea to me Raina

 

Do they fly up to the fence or hop onto other things to get up? What about some omlet/knowles netting to keep them in?

[Chucky Mama]

I think that it would not be good as any weights would put pressure on their backs and could cause injury as they try to adapt to them.

[Raina]

Ah Okie!

 

Hi Lewis

 

They never hopped onto anything to help them, They just jumped up then flapped their wings,I was scared to death when they (Orakiah) first did it,Didn't think they could jump that high

[Stevie]

Hiya Raina.

 

Quick question:Have you trimmed enough of the primary feathers? If done correctly,it should unbalance them enough to prevent mad flappings to greater heights.

[Raina]

Hi Steve.

 

I think i have, Will have to see if i can cut them a little lower