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

[stephent]

Hi we have just picked up one speckledy and one black rock, would like advice on whether we need to clip their wings please? We have a 6ft fence around the garden, is it necessary to clip?

[sparkysmum]

Hi stephen, no experience of your breed of hens but none of ours have clipped wings . However our araucana flies quite a distance when the fancy takes her Still not keen on wing clipping as our vet suggested that this could simply lead to her being injured . Hopefully someone will come along soon with more info.

[Millie-Annie]

None of my ex-batts flew, so never gave it a thought until yesterday when I called my girls and my Suffolk Noir flew higher than my head. I also have a 6ft fence round the garden, but realised she could probably reach that. As I didn't want her to end up a new toy for next doors dog, I had my vet clip her wings. She can still take off but only about a 2 foot now.

[jennydavies]

We clipped all our four girls wings when we brought them home, we didn't want the Greyhounds to get an unexpected dinner if the girls cleared the fence. The wing clipping didn't bother them at all and they sat in my arms happily while Charlie did the clipping. They were calm and quiet and it hasn't had any bad effects on any of them. They are all very "cuddly" and don't seem to mind being examined (underarms, bottoms etc. )

[chicken bark]

I think that as a rule the bigger the chicken the less they can fly. I would guess that you are okay. My hybrids don't fly over my 4 ft fence (so far! ). Just make sure they can't jump on something near the fence and then hop over the top.

 

I had the hen house too near the fence so my Black Star (should be a little smaller than a Black Rock) hopped onto the hen house and then jumped over the fence. Naughty chicken.

 

TBH I'm keeping a close eye on them and if one makes a break for it again I'll be clipping them.

[Woodcat]

I think that as a rule the bigger the chicken the less they can fly.

 

wish my lot would obey the rule. My dorking who is a really big girl considerably bigger than my hybrids can fly to about 4 foot with her wings clipped. I have clipped all of my lot because we have a jack Russel next door and I'm terrified of them getting over there. Equally I'm worried about them getting over into mothers veg patch as i'm fairly certain i'd be hiding chickens if they destroy it again(4th time). I'd keep an eye on them and see how high they can jump it really depends on the chicken.

[chickyhazel]

All our old girls have their wings clipped, but we didn't clip our new girls wings. We didn't realise the difference until we saw all of the new girls take off and fly about 10 metres! Wing clipping doesn't hurt the chickens and they don't seem to mind.