Chicken boarders

[Ewsee]

Hi

I really need to wing clip my maran hen Angle. She is flighty and I can't catch her. I can catch my 2 other hens so I don't think that I need to clip them, but I am concerned for Angle's safety. I don't want her to fly over the hedge and into the road. Some people don't think I should do it. But I cant decide. I know how to do it, does any one have any advice?

Thanks

[Eggasperated]

I found wing clipping surprisingly stress-less for both me and the chickens. I held them and my OH clipped them, but I did read about it and look at pictures first to make sure that we did the clipping correctly.

[Olly]

No, it's not mean - it is painless, and as said, fairly stress-free although it may help if there's two of you, if you don't have much experience of holding chickens. Since they don't normally fly anyway they are not being deprived of anything, and you will prevent them from launching themselves over fences and gates into unsafe places.

[chuckmum6]

No, it's just like having your toenails, just cut the first 9 or so feathers, the remainder are need to keep your girl warm. It is sensible to do if you think your girl could get into danger without it being done.

[Egluntyne]

It is no different to a hair cut really, and is in her best interests if she is prone to escaping.

[chick wiggle]

Ive clipped some of my girls wings and they hardly realised what had happened, they dont feel anything and they are safer for it. You cant tell its been done when the wings are not open either. Who said not to do it and why? I will be doing my new girls too.

[alet_chicken]

It may be different for you, but I have only ever needed to clip my girls' wings once. By the time they moult and the feathers grow back, they seem to have completely forgotten that they can fly (or in the case of my Marans, they put on weight as they came into lay so flying is no longer an option), so no need to clip again.

[stripeybunny]

I haven't clipped the wings of my chickens because I wanted them to be able to escape if a fox attacked when they were free ranging. 2 of them flew into a neighbours garden once when they were a bit spooked by something but other than that they have never tried to fly away so I wasn't so worried about this. Still can't decide whether to or not but I don't really see any need to at the moment.

[Ewsee]

Thank you for the replys. Does anybody know when to clip them, is there a particular

season? thanks

[Lavenders_Blue]

I haven't wing clipped my girls because they are lazy madams and on the very few occasions they have got airborne (usually whilst doing one of those flap assisted sprints round the garden) they have looked very suprised at what happened! However, if my birds were flightly, I would definitely do it as it keeps both them and the neighbours gardens safe.

I think you can clip their wings any time, as long as they are not moulting. Remember only to clip one wing!

[madchickenlady]

I ahve pekins, so haven't had to wing clip. That said, Hilda managed to get on the greenhouse roof a few weeks ago , so she might well get clipped if I see her attempt any such thing again . I don't think it's cruel. It doesn't hurt them and it's done to stop them getting themselves hurt. If you're worried about escaping, I'd clip them

[LeeMeadfan]

We decided to wing clip ours as they were doing 'the Great escape' from a specially fenced off area - particularly our Whitestar as she is smaller and lighter and apparently 'flightier' than other hybrids.

 

It was easy to do , but I have to say it made no difference whatsoever! Still managed to 'fly'/'jump' over!!