2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Gertie]

I am in shock, a bit!! I let my new hens out in the extension outdoor pen for the first time today. It has 6 foot high chicken wire all the way around. There is nothing in the pen to jump on to take a flying leap from. I was cleaning out the cube when I heard mad flapping. I looked up and Estelle my Bluebelle was perched on the top of the wire. She flew down into the garden and I just walked over and picked her up - thankfully she is tame and easy to catch.

 

I could not believe it. I know chickens can fly, but I did not think they could fly over the 6 foot fence. I have not clipped their wing but I might have to now!

 

My Maran can jump/fly about 4 foot but not higher.

 

Just thought I'd share my surprise. I am very impressed with her agility.

[percy049]

i knew they could fly high... but not that high!

[sparkysmum]

My sablepoots & my araucana can easily clear 6 feet.

[Gertie]

Wow, well that is impressive.

 

I think maybe I should clip the wing. I have read how to do it and seen it done on instructional video etc...but I am scared to do it in case I get it wrong and make it bleed. Does anyone have any tips for a fearful wing clipper!?

 

 

 

Many thanks

[Madchook]

You won't make them bleed, you are only cutting feathers.

I have a Cream Legbar that roosts in the cherry tree every night- she has clipped wings too! I also have an Indian Game cockerel that keeps insisting on roosting right at the top with the wood pigeons (about 25ft up)

[Chicken shack]

My Bluebelle can also fly high and she has a clipped wing.

Wow roosting in a tree, aren't you afraid the foxes will get to them?

[Steve the Gas]

Ever seen a fox climb a tree?

 

I haven't

[LauraJ]

Ha ha, sensible chickens! Two of ours sometimes roost on top of our 6ft fence, well out of harms way.

[Roobaloo]

One of my Mum's new Poland's got lose and flew 8ft over their fence (it's a 6ft fence, raised up on a 1ft wall....with at LEAST half a foot of some sort of ivy/climber plant on it...and she easily cleared it)

 

The garden she landed in had two loose dogs...how she didn't get killed, I don't know!! We got her back, clipped her wing...but she's made no attempt to even flap let along fly - poor thing!!

[Gertie]

Ok...so I have now established that lots of hens can fly high!!!

 

Thanks Chicken Shack - good to know that other's Bluebelles do the same. I was under the impression that they were larger birds and therefore might not reach great heights. I suppose it is because she is still young and slim!

 

Madchook - I am sure I read somewhere that if you cut wrongly (but maybe it was a new feather) it can bleed badly. I will watch the instructional things again and have a go. Wish me luck!!

 

Roobaloo - glad your hen did not come to any harm. I am just glad that I was in the garden at the time. I don't leave them in that pen if I go out, but I am not always in the garden either!

[Clairey_Fairy]

I was going to clip my girls wings, but so far (had them about 7 weeks now), they have been OK so haven't bothered. We have a 6 foot fence all round. The most I've seen them do is 'fly' accross the lawn if they think they are missing out on something and want to get there faster, but they don't really get off the ground!

[Charlie7]

I was also terrified of clipping my girl's wings, but actually it is quite easy and it went very well.

[catherinedon]

I have had a similar problen with our Araucane and light sussex in the outside run even though we added a low perch. I too was scared to clip wings but wanted outside run to be natural so they could feel wind and rain if they chose to so we have covered the top with netting today

[Chicken shack]

I live in a very urban area steve the gas and I can tell you that the foxes round our way can climb quite high. They are able to get onto my husbands 12ft garage with out any problems. They just scale up the side, nifty little devils. I do think the urban foxes are very versatile. My freind lives in the country side and they never seem to be able to climb as high there.

[groovydad]

I have 3 Silkies and all the books say that they can't fly, the best they can manage is a low jumpy flapping so they are good family pets because you can even keep them in low fenced areas. WRONG. Mine can easily clear a 6ft fence.

 

My advice is take anything an 'expert says' with a pinch of salt and take notice of your individual hens/chickens instead. Presume the chickens can get over that fence/wall and presume the foxes will be able to get in. It's better to be over cautious than under cautious. That way you can relax more once it's done and enjoy your chickens.

 

Urban foxes are cunning, Mission Impossible style creatures. If they're determined they'll keep at it and you'll be surprised how they manage it.

[Peaches]

I had the same problem - Henrietta kept escaping from our run and I checked for any breaks, crevices, etc and it wasn't until I caught her actually flying over the electric netting that found out how she was getting out.

 

I know it sounds a bit daft to be surprised that birds with wings can fly, but I was!